By John Connell

Last updated at 11:59, Thursday, 30 August 2012

The level of rain which hit west Cumbria overnight and this morning has been described as “incredible” by the Environment Agency.

Fifty-two millimetres of rain fell in the Egremont area in six hours, between 10pm and 4am last night.

At 1am today, 15 millimetres of rain fell in 15 minutes at Calder Hall.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said: “We are now in the recovery phase.

“We are working closely with the police, the emergency services and Copeland Borough Council to see what steps we need to take.”

The spokesman added: “We have a representative over at a reception area [Egremont Market Hall] which has been set up by the council.”

A flood alert was still in place this morning on the rivers Ehen, Calder, Irt and Esk.

The Environment Agency said it would continue to monitor the situation.

However, the flood warnings at the River Ehen at Egremont, Bleach Green, Ennerdale Mill, Springfield Road, Vale View and Wood Bank are no longer in force.

A spokesman for Cumbria police said drains were unable to cope with the amount of water after the River Ehen and several becks in the Egremont area burst their banks.

First published at 11:24, Thursday, 30 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk