Heavy rain as ex Storm Jonas sweeps region

Cumbria County Council has been forced to respond to rumours that a proposed council tax rise is being levied to fund flood recovery.

Locals have described the collapse of a Grade II listed bridge as a 'tragedy'.

Bell Bridge at Welton near Carlisle had stood for nearly 200 years but yesterday it crumbled into the River Caldew after becoming damaged in the recent storms.

Our reporter, Matthew Taylor, met some of the locals as they shared their memories of the bridge with him:

A flood alert is in place across Dumfries and Galloway, meaning that flooding is possible and to be prepared.

There is also a Yellow Warning for rain in force from 3.00pm today until 6.00pm tomorrow.

Cumbria County Council has tweeted that people were seen crossing a Cumbrian bridge 20 minutes before it collapsed... despite warning signs being in place.

Bell Bridge had stood near the village of Welton for nearly 250 years, but was damaged in the December floods, and collapsed yesterday.

A flood alert is in force across the Scottish Borders region, meaning that flooding is possible and to be prepared.

Previous flood warnings for Kelso, Monteviot and Peebles are no longer in place.

For more information on flooding in the Scottish Borders, visit the SEPA website.

There is 1 flood warning and 4 flood alerts in force across Cumbria.

A Yellow Warning for rain is also in place across Cumbria from 3pm today until 6pm tomorrow.

Flood warning:

• Keswick Campsite

Flood alert:

• Rivers Lowther and Eamont
• Rivers Cocker, Marron and Derwent
• River Brathway, Rothay and Winster
• Upper River Derwent, Stonethwaite Beck and Derwentwater

For further information on floods warnings in Cumbria, visit the Environment Agency website.

Devastated villagers who have been affected by the collapse of a Grade Two listed bridge have met to discuss what to do next.

Bell Bridge near the village of Welton, in Cumbria, collapsed yesterday.

It's one of many bridges in the region that have been damaged by heavy rain, wind and flooding over the winter.

Scottish Borders Council are assessing the damage caused by flooding as roads across the region remain affected by standing water.

Around 300 households in Hawick were told to evacuate yesterday as were 50 homes in Jedburgh.

Heavy rain resulted in the River Teviot rising to levels similar to during Storm Desmond in early December.

Parts of Dumfries and Galloway have been flooded, including the village of Cullin.

Homes were evacuated and as you can see from this video, surface water remains on the roads, but there are no longer any flood warnings in place: