Rescue work continues as colleagues mourn policeman (From The Northern Echo)

Rescue work continues as colleagues mourn policeman

8:23am Saturday 21st November 2009 in

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THE emergency services were today braced for more heavy rain after England's wettest day on record claimed the life of a heroic policeman and left thousands of others counting the cost of flooded homes and businesses.

The "Biblical" downpour over Cumbria was the highest level of rainfall measured in England since records began, forecasters said, with 314mm - more than one foot of rain - falling in 24 hours.

The grim record brought chaos yesterday as floods swept away bridges, forced hundreds of people from their homes and closed roads.

With heavy and persistent rain expected to fall today on already saturated ground, rescue services in Cumbria were preparing to deal with the possibility of flood water levels rising again.

Julian Mayes, a forecaster with MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said the storm was of "Biblical proportions".

The police officer who died would have celebrated his 45th birthday today.

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 yesterday.

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.

Today, flood levels were dropping by around two inches an hour as officers on foot patrol conducted searches through the night in Cockermouth - the town worst hit by the flooding - for any residents still trapped in their homes.

A police spokesman said: "Nobody has been reported missing in the area at this time and the rescue effort is being scaled down. It is now a police-led operation on foot."

Less than 100 people remain in reception centres, with the rest having made alternative arrangements to stay with family and friends.

Emergency services are again highlighting the need to exercise caution around bridges in areas affected by flooding. Many bridges are under extreme pressure due to fast flowing flood waters and present a danger to members of the public.

Bridges and road networks are being closely monitored.