FLOODING has caused chaos across South Cumbria today, with homes evacuated and traffic grinding to a halt.
The A595 has reopened after it was closed in two places due to flash floods at and .
Heavy rainfall overnight has seen firefighters deployed to assist with evacuations and rescues.
- Rivers Duddon, Crake and Mill Beck
- Rivers Kent and Bela
- Rivers Brathay, Rothay and Winster
- The Upper Derwent from Seathwaite to Derwent Water
A flood rescue boat from Cumbria Fire and Rescue in is understood to be in .
Bootle Stores Bootle Stores was flooded this morning but is still open to customers.
Lauren Parkinson, who works at the store, says the situation is serious.
She said: "As far as I'm aware houses are being evacuated. The rain has subsided but the rivers are still pretty high.
"We're just trying to help people out as much as we can with things like sandbags."
The A5087 Coast Road was also affected and there was surface water on several stretches of the A590 between and .
on the A595 is also affected, with the river level rising.
Firefighters from Barrow and Ulverston were called to rescue a man from a submerged car at Duddon Bridge.
Jo McGrath, from Coniston, had just been to drop her mother off in Broughton and was heading towards Corney Fell when she spotted the car stuck in floodwater.
The submerged car
She said: "I saw the car along the way and saw that the lights were on. I didn't know if anyone was in it and I couldn't get a signal on my phone.
"There was a car further up the road which was all steamed up and people there were getting changed and had sticks by the car, so I assumed they had gone to check if anyone was in it.
"The fire brigade turned up so I left.
"There has been times when it's been like that before and there have been times when it's been worse than that but you don't usually see someone in the water with lights on in the car."
A fire crew from was sent to Barrow to cover while the town's full-time crew was called to rescue the stricken motorist.
Firefighters from Millom, Bootle, Ulverston and Barrow have also been involved in the floods.
The River Leven at Newby Bridge is at a level which makes flooding possible.
The River Duddon at Broughton is within a normal range but Brown Howe at Coniston and Cunsey Beck at Near Sawrey was rising as of 3pm.
Firefighters were called to reports of flooding at properties in Outcast, Ulverston, at 2.30pm.
Crews attempted to stem the flow of water using sandbags and vacated occupants of a cottage.
Looking towards Outcast from North Lonsdale Road area in Ulverston. ANDREW BUTCHER Councillor Andrew Butcher, of Ulverston Town Council, told the Evening Mail the flood defence behind North Lonsdale Road was "four inches" away from being breached at around 2.30pm.
Cllr Butcher, who lives in North Lonsdale Road, said: "It's four inches off coming over the flood defence.
"It's filled up in about an hour and a half.
"I'm wondering if the work the Environment Agency has done in the town has put more pressure onto South Ulverston."
Cllr Butcher said the Environment Agency had been to the scene to assess the situation and was due to send a pump to prevent rising water levels with high tide in the morning.
Residents in are being warned of the possibility of flooding.
Heavy rainfall overnight, which has continued this morning, has led to the Environment Agency issuing a flood alert for the rivers , and .
In its alert, the Environment Agency said: "River levels have risen in response to the overnight rain. The rain is forecast to pass over the area later this morning, with the rest of the day being much drier. The Environment Agency continues to monitor the situation."
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Hawkshead Show, due to take place tomorrow, has been cancelled.
READ MORE: Hawkshead Show cancelled
Organisers of Millom and Broughton Show, set to take place this Saturday, is still scheduled to go ahead.
Parts of the A595 through Kirkby have also been affected by flooding.
Bob Morrish, Kirkby resident and Kirkby and Ireleth Parish clerk, said the roads haven't been this bad in years.
Bob Morrish
He said: "We've had a few floods this morning but the traffic seems to be getting through but it's going very slowly on the A595 and also on the road into Kirkby.
"It's really quite bad. I've been up and around in the car and it's appalling. The water that's coming off the fells is quite amazing.
"It hasn't been this bad for a couple of years but I can hear fire engines and there's plenty of police about so something is being done."
Barrow railway station A number of rail services were cancelled or delayed because of flooding on the line.
Services between Carlisle and Barrow are experiencing delays due to signalling problem at St Bees and flooding between Bootle and Silecroft. Delays of up to 60 minutes may still occur until approximately 9pm.
Heavy rain has flooded the railway between Lancaster and Preston causing disruption to journeys between these stations. This was cleared by 2.45pm.
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