Stunned

WEST Cumbria is in a state of shock this morning after the events of the last 48 hours.

The tragic loss of Bill Barker on the bridge in Workington, just by the Reds football gound, has left everyone stunned.

Clive Jefferson reports that Cockermouth is virtually under seige from rising water and there's the worry that the renewed onslaught from the weather, which is forecast for today, could have further devastating effect.

On Thursday when the storm hit us, at one point it seemed as though the roof of our constituency office might blow off. I was crawling around in the eaves with buckets trying to catch the leaks as the rain came down in sheets.

There are floods everywhere but thankfully the office has survived so far and Tina and I live on a hill so we should be OK.

Today's FA Trophy tie against Solihull has quite correctly been postponed - not because the pitch is waterlogged - apparently it's quite playable - but because of the tragedy at the bridge.

I spoke with Nick Griffin at length yesterday as he wanted a complete briefing on the situation in Workington and Cockermouth. He wants to help but said that we must wait until the emergency services have done their work and the media circus has left the area. Then we will see how we can be of use by utilising Nick's English Fair Fund to support any local projects helping the stricken community.

Tina's off the Carlisle this morning to do a bit of shopping by has strict instructions to be back by mid-day when the next round of weather is due to hit. At the moment the sun is shining and there's not a breath of wind . . . . the lull before the storm?