Floods devastate UK Lake District; much of Ireland

Torrential rain caused serious flooding across northern England and southern Scotland on Friday as searches intensified for a police officer who went missing after a bridge collapsed. Flood defences in northern English Cumbrian towns were overwhelmed by unprecedented downpours that officials said could be expected only once in 1,000 years. Lifeboats and Royal Air Force helicopters were used to rescue hundreds of people from their homes in towns and villages across the picturesque region known as the Lake District.The Ministry of Defence said military help was being provided and could be stepped up while Cumbrian police said a search was continuing for Police Constable Bill Barker who disappeared when a bridge in Workington collapsed. Barker, an officer for 25 years, was on the bridge directing motorists when it collapsed. Environment Minister Hilary Benn went to Cockermouth to see the flood damge at first hand.The rain gauge at Seathgate recorded 314 milimetres in 24 hours, which could make it the wettest day of rainfall ever recorded. And that is why hugh torrents of water have come here through Cockermouth, also in Keswick and other parts of Cumbria, and there may be more to come, he said. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave assurances that everything possible would be done to help the flood victims. Anything that is needed to be done we will provide and my hope is that we can ensure that as many people as possible are as safe as possible within the next day, the next few hours, he said.The Meteorological Office said the amount of rain expected during the entire month of November had fallen in 24 hours. The Environment Agency reported 314 mm had fallen in one area in 24 hours which it said was a record for England. The Met Office said there was a better forecast for Friday but that another 40 mm of rain could fall on Saturday. Officials said there were four severe flood warnings - where there is extreme danger to life and property - for northwest England and another eight in Scotland. Britain has been hit by severe flooding in recent years, raising questions about the impact of global warming. Last year Britain saw its wettest summer since records began in 1914 while floods in 2007 affected 55,000 homes and businesses and left an insurance bill of around 3 billion pounds.