Heavy and persistent rain forecast for today through to Sunday has prompted a flood alert for areas in the Borrowdale Valley with flooding expected to affect low lying land and roads.
The Environment Agency said that flooding is expected to affect areas of low land in Seatoller, Stonethwaite, Rosthwaite, Grange-in-Borrowdale and Derwentwater shoreline areas.
River levels are expected to remain high until Monday and the situation will be closely monitored, with incident response staff checking defences and removing blockages from debris screens.
People are asked to avoid using low lying footpaths near rivers and Derwentwater.
Ahead of the expected heavy rainfall this weekend, Keswick Flood Action Group has asked Cumbria County Council to check the two mobile pumps, at the town’s Brundholme Road and fire station in Penrith Road to ensure they are ready for use.
The group has also made a formal request to United Utilities to make additional releases from Thirlmere reservoir to give extra storm space to protect the Keswick community from the River Greta, which overtopped causing devastating flooding in the town in 2015, 2012, 2009 and 2005.
Keswick Flood Action Group chairwoman Lynne Jones said: “The warnings from the Met Office are so stark and we are just at the start of the wet winter period.
“At the moment Thirlmere is low and now is the time for United Utilities to release water from the reservoir to protect the town in the future.”
