Cars are continuing to get trapped in floodwater as roads across the county remain underwater.

Schools are closed, trains cancelled and large sections of some of the county's busiest roads are flooded, after Cumbria was hit by torrential rain.

Motorists are warned to take extra care and not risk driving through waterlogged roads.

The most recent incident saw firefighters from west Cumbria rescue a car from floodwater near Cleator Moor.

Plumbland, Blennerhasset, Aspatria, Cockermouth, Dearham are among the areas that have been badly hit.

There are currently eight flood warnings and 16 flood alerts in place across Cumbria.

While the rain has started to ease in many places, river levels are continuing to rise as the water comes off the fells.

The eight flood alerts are:

  • Dragley Beck at Ulverston from Dragley Beck Bridge on Well Lane downstream to South Ulverston
  • Keswick Campsite
  • River Cocker at Southwaite Bridge
  • River Ehen at Egremont, Bleach Green, Ennerdale Mill, Springfield Rd, Vale View, Wood Bank
  • Skirting Beck at Egremont, Church View and Beck Side
  • Skirting Beck at Egremont, Milton Road to Beck Side
  • Town Beck at Ulverston from The Gill downstream to The Ellers area
  • Whangs Beck at Egremont, Southey Avenue to Beck Side

Cumbria County Council has closed Egremont Bridge, in Egremont and Forge Bridge, Eskdale, due to the weather.

Penrith FC has confirmed that its game at Frenchfield Park tonight, against Crown Newlaithes, has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Some schools closed first thing, while others were forced to shut at lunchtime because of the severe flooding on surrounding roads.

National Rail says heavy rain has caused flooding on various routes.

Its latest update to passengers at 1.15pm says trains between Carlisle and Oxenholme Lake District on the West Coast Main Line may be delayed by up to 60 minutes.

Elsewhere trains on the Cumbria coastal line are suspended between Carlisle and Maryport, with alternative road transport expected to run.

Disruption is expected to continue until 6pm, National Rail predicts.

Passengers are advised to used alternative routes and operators, including "any reasonable route until further notice".

On the roads, the A595 between Cockermouth and just north of Bothel is particularly hazardous, with standing water on both sides of the road.

In some parts of Bothel, traffic has been slowed to a crawl as motorists negotiate deep water on the road.

Just outside of Bothel, water on the road is fast-flowing.

The problems have caused tailbacks over a lengthy stretch of the road. One motorist said: "I've never seen flooding this bad on the A595.

"On the hill at Moota the water is flowing like a river."

To the west of the county, traffic was brought to a standstill.

Cars heading towards Sellafield along the busy A595 from the north were gridlocked from the nuclear complex to the church at Bigrigg.

Some roads, particularly in Workington town centre, began to flood as drains backed up.

At Ullock, water is being pumped back into the River Marron as it has reached its top.

Environment Agency operational teams spent the hours before last night's heavy rainfall clearing blockages on watercourses in preparation, while the Agency's duty officers have been monitoring rainfall, river and lake levels closely.

Cumbria County Council has confirmed a number of school closures as a result of the heavy overnight rain. They include Borrowdale C of E Primary School in Borrowdale Road, Keswick, closed today due to flooding on the road.

It is expected to reopen tomorrow.

Other schools closed are:

  • Ireby C of E School, again due to impassable roads
  • Bridekirk Dovenby School, near Dovenby
  • St Michael's School at Bothel
  • Plumbland School, near Aspatria
  • Oughterside School, near Aspatria, closed from 12.30pm due to a road being under water
  • Richmond Hill School, Aspatria
  • Beacon Hill School, Aspatria, closed from 12.30pm
  • Blennerhasset School, Blennerhasset near Aspatria, due to severe flooding on all roads into the village. Parents of Blennerhasset School's pupils are being advised that they will be updated on the situation later today about opening tomorrow.
  • St Gregory's Primary School in Workington has taken the decision to close to allow staff to get home safely. Parents have been asked to collect their children.

Northern Rail said buses are replacing trains in both directions between Carlise and Maryport but trains will operate between Maryport and Barrow-In-Furness in both directions.

It is understood this is due to flooding in Aspatria.

The Met Office yesterday issued a yellow warning for heavy rain for much of the North West England for today, but this only lasted until late afternoon - with the rain expected to have cleared mid-afternoon.