In pictures: Carlisle floods

1 of 7 Carlisle was hit by floods at the weekend after a month's rain fell in 24 hours. Several people were airlifted from buildings.

2 of 7 Hundreds spent Saturday night in an evacuation centre. The downstairs of this house in the city centre is filled with dirty, freezing water.

3 of 7 Thousands more left their homes to stay with friends and family. Here, a local resident clambers his way above the flood water on Warwick Road.

4 of 7 After a night spent in bitter temperatures with no power, this woman decided it was time to leave.

5 of 7 Ian Curry examines the flood damage to the lounge at his Warwick Road home. Insurers say the total bill for Carlisle will run into tens of millions.

6 of 7 Three people have died in the floods and storms. Environment Minister Elliott Morley said the city would receive all the help it needed.

7 of 7 Carlisle was completely cut off today as severe flooding forced the closure of all routes into the city.