M6 Cumbria closure as roads hit by surface water floods

Part of the M6 was closed and dozens of roads have been hit by surface water flooding during a spell of heavy rain.

Cumbria Police said a section of the motorway between junctions 41 and 42 northbound was shut for a while on Thursday morning, with the A595 near Wigton and roads in Carlisle also facing problems.

The force urged motorists not to drive through flooding and instead take alternative routes, while 20 flood warnings have been issued across Cumbria.

There was widespread flooding in the county last week which caused major disruption to travel, with more than 265 flooding and drainage issues were reported.

Among the waterways covered by Environment Agency flood warnings are the River Caldew in Carlisle and the River Eden in Appleby.

Police said they had received numerous reports of flooding, while Cumberland Council said the following roads have been closed.

• A595 outside Greenhill Hotel at Red Dial
• A596 outside the police station on Hall Brow, Workington
• A6071 Longtown Road, Brampton
• Wreay Road at Low Hurst Motorway Bridge
• Barras Brow, Dalston, between Cardewlees Farm Junction and the A595 at Cardewlees
• A69 Hayton, Lane End to Hayton village

In Carlisle the following roads have been shut:

• Dalston Road outside the crematorium
• Kingmoor Road beneath Etterby Bridge
• Viaduct Estate Road at the Castle Way end
• Caldew Riverside and West Walls car parks

“If you are traveling this morning, do so with caution and listen to travel updates,” the force advised.

Kate Inchbold-Stevens was taking her son to school and got caught in the floods near Corby.

She said the flood water “completely covered the road, and was very deep” and that traffic was “backed up” in Brampton.

“I saw teachers from William Howard School with radios all along the diversion doing a really good job of informing traffic, bus drivers and kids which way to go, making sure people were safe, and kids could get to school,” Ms Inchbold-Stevens added.

Westmorland and Furness Council said standing water was causing issues on the A6 at Plumpton.

It said the road from Plumpton heading west has been closed because the River Petteril has burst its banks.

The B6413 has also been closed at Lazonby Bridge because the River Eden has burst its banks.

Flusco household waste recycling centre in Penrith has been closed due to the issues.