SEVERE storm weather ravaged parts of Eden district on Friday night leaving thousands of residents to cope with floods, road closures and damage to property.

Hours of rain accompanied by strong gale force winds of up to 80mph contributed to some of the most adverse weather conditions the area has seen in decades.

Emergency service crews were forced to rescue residents of Chapel Street and The Sands in Appleby-in-Westmorland where waters from the River Eden rose to levels unseen since the disastrous floods of 1974.

The centre of Kirkby Stephen also flooded for the first time in many residents' memory leaving homes without electricity or running water over the weekend.

Michelle Cawley of the Environment Agency said: "We issued a level two warning for the area because of the highly unusual amount of rain we had. Over 200ml (8 inches) fell in just 36 hours which is very worrying."

The warning alarm sounded at 1.30pm in Appleby on Friday as the river level began rising rapidly.

Teams from the Environment Agency arrived in the town to fill extra sandbags and to raise the flood barriers on the Boroughgate side.

But as daylight faded and the banks of the river burst, sending a torrent of water three feet deep through The Sands, a decision was taken to evacuate residents to higher ground.

At least two people had to be rescued using a lifeline and life jackets as they were pulled through the fast flowing water.

And residents of Chapel Street were evacuated to the Public Hall where hot drinks could be served.

Shops and businesses on The Sands were flooded with water also beginning to creep into the Methodist Chapel.

All services were cancelled at St Lawrence's Church, Boroughgate, which was under two to three feet of water.

Frank Harland, Mayor of Appleby, said residents were now taking stock of the damage caused.

"The pressure of the water was so great it was leaking through the joints of the flood barrier. But water also seemed to pour in from higher up, causing it to flow down Doomgate and into Chapel Street where it flooded homes.

"Everyone has rallied round together and we now need to find out what happened."

Elsewhere in the region, fallen trees blocked numerous roads as teams of workers from the Environment Agency strove to clear the way.

The metal bridge at Langwathby was declared unsafe - isolating the village to larger vehicles.

See Photo Gallery for storm pictures.