Last updated 12:34, Friday, 24 October 2008

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The torrential downpour continues as the South Lakes is hit by floods. Traffic travels gingerly along Rayrigg Road in Bowness. 23rd OCT 2008 MILTON HAWORTH REF; 0455642

SOUTH Cumbrians are being urged to batten down the hatches with more wet weather set to continue to lash down over the weekend.
The region is on flood alert and the Met Office has issued a moderate risk of severe weather for tomorrow.
Many of the region’s roads are swamped with water and police are warning motorists to heed road closure signs and drive carefully.
Due to yesterday’s severe flooding the A592 road from Newby Bridge to Windermere is still closed, preventing access between Fellfoot Brow and Kirkstone, and blocking off Paterdale Road.
Also closed are the A591 between Ambleside and Keswick, and the A594 at Maryport from Ceder Crescent to Newland Park
Several other roads have suffered substantial flooding and should be avoided where possible.
Motorists should drive with extreme care upon seeing warning signs.
Winds in Barrow tomorrow will reach 40mph by 4pm and heavy rain will set in throughout the day. Similar weather is forecast for the Lake District.
The seriousness of the torrential downpours was highlighted yesterday when two school coach parties had to be rescued from a remote mountain pass in the Lake District after 80mph winds and torrential rain lashed the area.
The teenagers from Cleveland visited Honister Slate Mine at the top of one of England’s steepest mountain passes - Honister Pass - between Keswick and Buttermere.
While descending from the 1,100ft summit the coaches were blocked off by waist high floodwaters in both directions after the River Derwent, which runs alongside the B5289 road, broke its banks.
Mark Weir, the owner of Honister Slate Mine, and a team of his staff had to use a fleet of 4X4 mine Land Rovers to tow the coaches through the deluge.
Mr Weir said: “It was like a biblical storm. The wind is so strong that all the rain coming down the mountains in streams is being blown back uphill.
“The only way to get to Honister Slate Mine right now is by speedboat. We are now officially an island at the top of a mountain.”

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