North West battered by extreme weather

Customers in Lancaster and surrounding areas who had been receiving power via generators are now all back on the grid, Electricity North West confirmed today.

More than 70 generators had been providing temporary power to 23,000 customers in the area after the River Lune burst its banks and flooded the main substation.

Engineers spent Friday night switching remaining properties back to the power grid, and this work is now complete.

Mark Williamson, operations director for Electricity North West, said:

Chancellor George Osborne is extending a pledge to match the funds raised to help flooding victims.

An agreement to meet up to £1 million of the cash generated by Cumbria Foundation's Flood Appeal will be increased to £2 million.

It will also be widened to include the Community Foundation for Lancashire's Flood Recovery Fund's Appeal.

Mr Osborne said: "The Government is determined to stand by the communities affected by these devastating floods. That is why I am today doubling our pledge to match the money raised by local flood appeals to up to £2 million."

"The great work also being done by local charities will help communities get back on their feet, and we'll play our part in that too", he added.

On Wednesday, Mr Osborne announced a £50 million fund for families and businesses affected by flooding in Cumbria and Lancashire.

A week on from the devastation wreaked by Storm Desmond, the communities who've suffered say their fightback has begun.

The torrential rain and high winds forced thousands of people from their homes in Cumbria and Lancashire, the damage is expected to run into hundreds of millions pounds.

Drying out, repairs, and rebuilding will take many months, and there's a warning of more rain on the way.

But the message coming from the areas worst-affected tonight is that people are working together to try to make sure its busines as usual