‘My husband is trapped he hasn’t got any food’

As the floodwaters rose at alarming speeds in Cockermouth, hundreds of people were rescued by emergency services and RAF helicopters. Many others took refuge in the upper floors of their homes and waited for help.

Two female Barclays workers, who had remained in the Main Street bank yesterday during torrential rain, were only rescued in the early hours after firemen broke into the first floor.

"There was a massive torrent going past the front of the building and they were on the first floor behind barred windows," said Sarah Nimmo-Scott, deputy divisional commander of the local lifeboat service. "We had to get the fire brigade to basically break into Barclays."

Laurence and Kath O'Hare, both 65, who live in a bungalow, were rescued after being persuaded to go to a neighbour's house. Mrs O'Hare said: "We only moved here four years ago and were assured that we were 17 feet above the river. We have a beautiful house... but now it's probably destroyed. Our house is ruined."

Others waited for news of loved ones. Liz Sitton, 59, said her disabled husband had refused to leave his three dogs. "He is trapped in the house. The winchman has been at the window but my husband said he's staying. He hasn't got any food."

During the night, some residents posted on the BBC website. Phil Howe said: "I'm trapped in my office. Luckily I have a bedsit on the third floor. I've been in contact with mountain rescue but I'm not a priority because I'm fit and healthy. The power went off overnight which was quite scary, but it's back on again now and it's daylight so it's not so bad. I can see rescue boats going up and down the street."

Another, Don Hindmoor said: There are three of us marooned in an upstairs flat. Never seen it this bad. Two other people nearby in similar position, safe but stuck. Water is three to four feet deep.''

And Sue Cashmore said: I am trapped upstairs with my two daughters and my daughter's boyfriend. Our entire downstairs is flooded — it's up to chest height. We have no electricity, no hot water, no heating so we're sat up here in the dark. My parents are 73 and live down the road, but I can't get to them now. They're starting to get worried so I called the police."

Michael Dunn, manager of the Bitter End pub, said: "This is a tourist town as well so it will be hit very hard. A lot of properties... have had their windows smashed in by the force of the water. There were cars floating down the street. It will be a long time before Cockermouth recovers."

Tony Cunningham, the local MP, has said the flood was "of biblical proportions" and the sort seen "once every 1,000 years".