Officer missing as bridge collapses

A male police officer is missing following the collapse of a bridge in Workington amid what the local MP described as the kind of flooding seen only "once every 1,000 years".

More than 200 people were forced to leave their homes in Cockermouth overnight, with 50 evacuated by RAF helicopters after flooding cut off the town centre. Armed forces were called in to help emergency services cope with the impact of what the Environment Agency said was "record rainfall".

Cumbria police said one of its officers was unaccounted for in Workington after Northside bridge, on one of the main routes into the town, collapsed at around 4.40am.

It is one of two bridges to have collapsed in the town, where conditions are described as "extremely dangerous" after torrential rain caused rivers to burst their banks.

Search operation

"Unfortunately Cumbria police can confirm that one of our police officers is unaccounted for after a bridge collapsed at Northside in Workington," a spokeswoman said.

"A search operation is under way and we have assigned a liaison officer to support the family. This is an extremely difficult time for the officer's colleagues, who are still committed to supporting the community and dealing with the flood situation."

Workington Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) joined the search for the missing officer at 6.10am, but said their lifeboat was forced back after three hours due to bad weather.

"Workington RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched at 6.10am to search at the mouth of the river Derwent and along the coast to the north of the town," said a spokeswoman. "Around 10 members of the RNLI lifeboat crew also joined other emergency services in a shore search for the missing officer."

Police said they were still searching properties in Cockermouth. A spokesman said all but 10 had been searched, with no casualties found. Police and armed forces were trying to reach the remaining buildings.

Air force helicopters, mountain rescue teams and fire crews were summoned to rescue those trapped by rising waters in the main street and town square.

The Environment Agency said Cockermouth and Keswick had been hit the hardest as record rainfall overwhelmed flood defences. The agency's gauging station at Seathwaite farm, Borrowdale, recorded 314.4mm over 24 hours until 12.45am Thursday.

"We have seen unprecedented rainfall, with what we believe is a record amount for a 24-hour period in England," said the agency chairman, Lord Smith. "Towns and villages across Cumbria have been evacuated with floodwater driven by heavy rainfall, saturated ground and swollen rivers."

— Guardian News & Media Ltd