Sky News on Top with Cumbria Flooding Coverage

Sky News led the way in broadcasting the events which have unfolded over the past few days throughout Cumbria, including the dramatic scenes from Cockermouth.  With many journalists deployed and live pictures from the region within hours of the disaster starting to unfold, Sky News left the BBC's television coverage high and dry.  The BBC does have to be noted however for its local radio coverage which has been second to none. 

Sky News' flagship evening newscast, Live at Five broadcast from Cockermouth Friday, after the worst floods ever seen in the region hit Thursday night and into Friday morning.

Local  Workington MP Tony Cunningham said the flood was "of biblical proportions" and seen "once every 1,000 years" and Sky News presenter Andrew Wilson was live in the town to bring viewers the latest on the situation affecting much of the north of England and Boarder areas. 

Sky News presenter Colin Brazier has been reporting live from Cockermouth since 11.30 on Friday Morning, but Sky News has had a correspondent, a satellite truck and two cameras on the ground since Thursday evening bringing Sky News viewers all the developments from the devastated town from around 8pm onwards. 

Sky viewers were able to watch as rescue helicopters were scrambled to evacuate residents last night, and have been kept up to date with live pictures since including the aftermath of a collapsed bridge in Cockermouth and RAF helicopters scrambling this morning to aid the rescue effort. Sky News has been live in rescue centres and speaking to affected local people, politicians including the local MP Tony Cunningham and the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.

Sky News reporters on the ground have been Tweeting the latest updates and users of Twitter can follow them: @Skynewsnorth and @Skymanchester. Sky News reporter Tom Parmenter is also filing video footage on Qik.com and direct from his mobile phone to skynews.com.

Quotes on the flood and devastation:

Workington MP Tony Cunningham said the flood was "of biblical proportions" and seen "once every 1,000 years".  "The scale and the force of the devastation in Cockermouth is huge."

Hilary Benn – Environment secretary said:  “…to deal with whatever is required, trying to make sure that everybody that everybody is accounted for and of course, in particular, our thoughts are with the family of the police officer who is currently reported missing in Workington after the apparent collapse of a bridge. And it does remind all of us just how dangerous these waters are and the advice I know you’ve been giving is, stay out of the water, listen for the warnings, if you’re given advice to leave your home, act upon it, and please look out for elderly neighbours and relatives who may need help.

“Everybody has pulled together as we tend to do, because you’ve got to deal with the needs of the moment, you’ve got to help people, look our for your neighbours, but it’s been a pretty tough night and they’ll be a lot of clearing up and we’ll give every help that we can.”

Eric Nicholson, who represents Cockermouth on the county council, said the town centre was "a wipe-out". He said: "The whole street is flooded. It has never been this bad before. The water has got into every single property in Main Street." He added: "The emergency services have done a phenomenal job. We drew up an emergency plan after the last time and it has worked perfectly."

Cockermouth resident Gwenda Davies was staying with a friend when the deluge hit and both were trapped in the upstairs of the house. Ms Davies told Sky News the levels of water in the house had not "moved" overnight. She said: "We've just been to the stairs below and it's just not moved since we went to sleep. The weather has been atrocious."

Michael Dunn, manager of the Bitter End pub in Cockermouth, said the town would not recover until next year. "This is a tourist town as well so it will hit very hard," he said. "There were cars floating down the street. It will be a long time before Cockermouth recovers from this."

Councillor Bob Hardon, who lives in Workington, said residents had been cut off by the floods. He said: "Workington now has no mains gas supply either because the bridge carried the supply so any poor soul cooking or using gas heating is in trouble.

"This is the worst weather in a long time. In 1976 I worked in the brewery in Cockermouth and we had beer barrels floating in the cellar but this is as bad as it's been for ages."

Sky weather presenter Isobel Lang said the village of Seathwaite recorded a massive 320mm (12.5in) of rain in 24 hours. She said the weather has now cleared but more rain from the south is expected on Saturday - up to 50mm (2in).