Cumbria residents return to devastated homes

Residents of a flood-ravaged town were allowed back into their homes and businesses today to begin the long process of cleaning up the damage.

Police said people could return to the 900 affected properties in Cockermouth in Cumbria after they were checked for sewage contamination, structural stability and electrical safety.

But for most it was not a happy homecoming as they were confronted by the devastation caused by the floods.

Mother-of-one Natalia Ekarad, 28, said she was "devastated" when she returned to her home in Main Street in Cockermouth to find her kitchen and lounge had been ruined.

"We have been here two years and were so happy. Now everything is gone," she said.

"My husband and my nine-month-old baby have not come back yet - they are still at a rest centre - and I was dreading coming here today. I just cannot believe it. I have no idea what we will do."

Elaine Oxon, owner of fashion store Westmidges in Main Street, lost her entire stock.

She said: "The smell is absolutely horrendous, it might be contaminated.

"We may never be able to open again and I feel like giving up. Everything is ruined."

Many homes and businesses in Cumbria remained cut off by collapsed or damaged bridges today.

Structural engineers and military experts were carrying out an urgent safety review of the county's 1,800 bridges as fears grew that Calva bridge in Workington was on the brink of being swept away.

Tony Cunningham, Labour MP for Workington, said getting from the town to nearby Seaton had turned into a 90-mile journey.

He suggested temporary structures might need to go up in the short term, adding: "My major concern is residents who are cut off. Things are getting desperate."

Canon Bryan Rowe, of St Michael's Church in Workington, said: "The whole community is hurting. We are isolated. We are a long way from a motorway now. We can't even go the other side of the river."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown today announced emergency funding to help rebuild bridges and roads devastated by the floods.

He said the extra money would be made available to local authorities via the Department for Transport.

Investment in flood defences is set to reach £800 million by next year, he said in a speech to the CBI conference in London.

Mr Brown's spokesman told reporters at a daily Westminster briefing that all the Highways Agency bridges in Cumbria - which carry the main arterial roads and motorways - had been checked and cleared.

Floods Minister Huw Irranca-Davies is visiting the area today, while Environment Secretary Hilary Benn will update MPs in an oral statement to the House of Commons.

Cumbria Police Chief Constable Craig Mackey paid tribute to the public response to the floods as the operation moved from the rescue phase to the clean-up stage.

He said: "I am touched by the real sense of community spirit that has been shown during this difficult time in Cumbria - which has seemed to spread across the UK.

"We have had an incredible amount of support offered to us by volunteers and partners from around the country, and I have no doubt that together we'll be able to rebuild our communities and steadily restore a degree of normality for the people of Cumbria."

But he warned that it could take Cumbria years to recover from the damage caused by the floods.

He said: "What will distinguish this from many other floodings across the country is the length of time the recovery phase will take.

"We will be working with our communities for weeks, months, and in some cases years to come."

Cumbria County Council said 13 primary schools and five secondary schools were closed today, with the majority hoping to reopen tomorrow.

Fresh tributes were paid to the hero policeman who died in the floods today as the inquest into his death was opened and adjourned.

Pc Bill Barker, 44, was directing motorists away from Northside Bridge in Workington when it collapsed at about 4.40am on Friday morning, plunging him into the the River Derwent. His body was found later that day.

Mr Mackey said the force had lost a "true friend", adding: "Bill is a hero who died saving the lives of others and our thoughts are with his family at this devastating time."

Brendan Jones, forecaster with MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said scattered showers in Cumbria today would be not be heavy enough to cause additional problems.

But more heavy rain is expected in the coming days, with strong winds tomorrow night.

He said: "Rainfall today is not going to be enough to raise river levels, but tomorrow we could easily see another 30mm to 40mm of rain, possibly more over high ground, with gusts of up to 70mph tomorrow night."

* A van driver was killed today after being hit by a falling tree, police said. The man, in his 40s, was trapped in his vehicle in Bramlands Lane, Woodmancote, near Henfield, West Sussex, at 12.40pm. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and the Sussex Police helicopter attended the incident but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.