Flooding forces thousands from homes

Thousands are waiting to return to homes that are without power in flood-ravaged Carlisle, as the city braces itself for more wet weather.

Schools are closed and hospital operations have been cancelled, while drivers are being warned to take great care.

Heavy rains and gales that swept the North and Scotland over the weekend left three people dead and two missing. Forecasters predict a brief respite for the region today, but the downpours are expected to return tomorrow evening.

Cumbria Police warned people to check if they needed to go into work as several roads are closed. A spokesman said: "The Fire Brigade and highway agencies have worked overnight to clear floodaffected roads. But we advise motorists to take great care in hazardous conditions." Drivers were warned of raised manhole and drain covers, plus silt and debris.

PA WeatherCentre meteorologist Brendan Jones said Cumbria would see more heavy rains. He said: "It has been largely dry since midnight and should remain so for most of the day. However, there will be more heavy rain and severe gales later tomor row and into Wednesday. Similar conditions-will also affect western-Scotland, Northern Ireland and most of northern Britain. We could get gusts in excess of 80mph."

A 63-year-old man was killed when a barn blew down near the Scottish border and the bodies of two elderly women were found in flood-affected homes in Carlisle.

Two people were missing in West Yorkshire and in Morayshire, Scotland, after they were swept away in swollen rivers.