Policeman dies amid flooding chaos
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It was the wettest day ever - and a family were left mourning a "heroic" policeman while thousands of others were left counting the cost.
The "Biblical" downpour over Cumbria was the highest level of rainfall measured in England since records began, forecasters said, with 314mm - more than foot of rain - falling in 24 hours.
The grim record brought chaos as floods swept away bridges, forced hundreds of people from their homes and closed roads.
Julian Mayes, a forecaster with MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, described it as a "historical event".
The police officer who died would have celebrated his 45th birthday on Saturday.
Pc Bill Barker was directing motorists away from Northside bridge in Workington, Cumbria, when it collapsed and he disappeared into the swollen waters of the River Derwent at about 4.40am on Friday.
The officer, from Egremont, served with Cumbria Police for 25 years and leaves a wife, Hazel, and four children.
She said: "How do you put into words how you feel about somebody you are so proud of?
"Bill was my best friend, my forever friend, and an amazing dad. Even when he was exhausted from work he would always take time out for the kids.
"I have the comfort of knowing that Bill died doing the job he loved, and the fact that he was helping others is just typical Bill."
Cumbria Police chief constable Craig Mackey said Pc Barker was "a wonderful police officer and a real family man".
He said: "Bill is a hero who died saving the lives of others and our thoughts are with his family at this devastating time. He was a much loved friend, colleague and an inspiration to everyone he knew - he will be sadly missed."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Pc Barker was "a very heroic, very brave man".
He said: "I think we owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for the service he has shown."
Pc Barker's body was found on a beach in nearby Allonby.
A rescue operation is continuing in Cockermouth - the town worst hit by the flooding - with people being winched to safety.
Both rivers that run through the town burst their banks, blocking roads and forcing more than 200 people to leave their homes.
Four bridges collapsed in the county and schools were used as makeshift community centres after the deluge struck.
Mr Mayes said the storm was of "Biblical proportions".
"The fact that there's eight feet of water in some places is not that surprising.
"Primarily, it's the sheer quantity in the last 36 hours that has caused the flooding.
"But in November the ground is saturated. The rain can't get into the soil, it just runs off.
"That means rivers rise very quickly and suddenly."
Red Cross worker Ian Rideout said many of the people rescued in the town were suffering from shock.
He said: "The centre of Cockermouth looks like it has been completely destroyed - I've never seen anything like it. The water has caused so much damage that many of the homes here are completely ruined.
"We've been working non-stop and between the Red Cross and RNLI we've rescued in the region of 200 people from their homes.
"Last night, I went up in one of the helicopters to get an idea of the full scale of the disaster and where we should focus rescue efforts. Almost straight away we found four people on the roof of their home who needed to be winched to safety.
"Most of the people we've rescued have been in shock. One minute it's raining heavily, then the next their home is filling with water and they're being evacuated by the Red Cross."
People in the town said they were worried that rain forecast for the weekend would bring more problems.
Alan Smith said: "The thing with the River Cocker is it can fall as quickly as it can rise.
"It's come down four foot from last night but the fells are sodden and if we get any more rain, it will just come straight off and into the river and the level will rise again.
"If we have persistent rain like last night and the day before, we will be back to square one."
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the flooding was the result of "an extreme weather event".
He said: "None of us can stop huge amounts of rain falling from the sky but we can make sure we are as prepared as possible which is why we have invested millions in flood defences and protection over the years.
"Our new Flood Forecasting Centre also means that we are better able to predict events like this and get warnings to people at the earliest possible stage. However I am determined that we learn any lessons from what has happened this week.
"I would urge everyone in the area to make sure you are taking all sensible precautions, heed the warnings of the emergency services, listen to local radio for updates and, most of all, keep safe."