Officer missing as bridge collapses
A search has been launched for a police officer who went missing after a bridge collapsed during heavy flooding.
Cumbria Police said the male officer was unaccounted for after Northside bridge, on one of the main routes into Workington, collapsed overnight, cutting off the gas supply to the town.
A spokesman for the police said: "A search operation is under way and we have assigned a liaison officer to support the family.
"This is an extremely difficult time for the officer's colleagues, who are still committed to supporting the community and dealing with the flood situation."
The spokesman said the bridge collapsed at around 4.40am.
Two bridges have collapsed in the town where conditions are described as "extremely dangerous" after torrential rains caused rivers to burst their banks.
Cumbria has been hardest hit by the weather with main roads blocked, schools closed and more than 200 people forced to leave their homes overnight.
RAF helicopters airlifted at least 50 people from buildings in nearby Cockermouth, where police said around 960 homes were at risk of flooding.
Dozens of others were helped to safety by the RNLI, the coastguard, police, fire and rescue and mountain rescue teams.
An RNLI spokeswoman said one of its boats based in Workington evacuated residents from an old people's home in the area.
