Heaviest Rainfall Ever Recorded In UK Powers Floods In Wales - 1 Foot+ In 24 Hours - AFP

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Clean-up efforts were underway Sunday in flood-hit towns following the heaviest downpours ever recorded in England, as fears mounted for a woman thought swept into a swollen river in Wales.

Some 314 millimetres (more than one foot) of rain fell in 24 hours -- the highest level since records began -- over Cumbria as torrential rains swept across Britain and Ireland.

The Environment Agency said 65 flood warnings were in force across England and Wales, with four severe warnings in Cumbria in northwest England, the area hardest hit.

About 60 people were still sheltering in reception centres and more than 700 properties remained without power. An urgent safety review of Cumbria's 1,800 bridges was under way with emergency services warning one bridge in the coastal town of Workington could collapse at any time. The Calva Bridge's closure cut off the north side of the town.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Clean-up_underway_in_Britain_after_floods_999.html