PM visits flood-hit Cumbria

By Nigel Roddis

COCKERMOUTH, England (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited flood-hit Cumbria in north west England Saturday to see the damage caused by record rainfall and pay tribute to a policeman who died when a bridge collapsed.

Heavy rain during the past few days has left hundreds of people sheltering in rescue centres, hotels and with family and friends.

Water levels were receding Saturday allowing emergency services to search properties to ensure residents were safe, and engineers to check for any structural damage to bridges.

But four severe flood warnings were still in place across the area and a further 30 mm of rain was forecast for later in the day.

"What you have done over the last few days is tackle one of the greatest rainfalls we've seen in our country," Brown told emergency services during a visit to Cumbria police headquarters.

He said the country was proud of their "superb" response.

He later visited a rescue centre and spoke to residents.

Elsewhere, large parts of Ireland's west, south and midlands remained submerged in flood water in the worst flooding the country has seen in decades, with 175 troops deployed in rescue efforts.