Storm Desmond

Engineers are battling to reconnect thousands of homes left without power in the wake of Storm Desmond.

Many families in Lancashire and Cumbria, the worst hit areas, spent another night away from flooded homes.

Schools in the region have been closed, travel disrupted and some non-emergency hospital procedures cancelled.

More rain is expected this week across the north of the UK, with 16 severe flood warning, indicating danger to life, in place.

Storm Desmond battered north-west England, as well as parts of Northern Ireland, north Wales and southern Scotland, over the weekend.

Record-breaking amounts of rain fell in Cumbria – the worst-hit county – prompting it to declare a major incident.

Across the north and in Scotland, roads have been destroyed, train passengers are being warned of a week of disruption and the Army is working to help people from their swamped homes.

The Government has said it will look again at flood defence spending in the wake of the deluge that has left thousands of homes in Cumbria and Northumberland flooded.

One rain gauge in Cumbria recorded 341mm of rain in 24 hours over the weekend – beating the previous highest-ever recorded English rainfall of 316mm in 2009 – much of which has poured into rivers and towns further downstream.