The Association of British Insurers have confirmed that the floods which hit Cumbia last week are likely to leave the British insurance sector with a bill of up-to 100 million pounds.

Based on the current claims, which come to a total of 1,000, the insured loss will be between 50 Million to 100 Million Pounds, and this might just increase as more claims pour in over the coming days.

The total insurance claims, however, are much lesser than the 3 billion pounds that were claimed as a result of the floods that hit UK in the summer of 2007.

"There are still people who haven't called their insurance companies and if there is more bad weather, there could be more claims. Our advice to people is, call your insurance company as soon as possible. As soon as the floods subside and it is safe to go in, a loss adjuster can go in to assess the damage", said ABI spokeswoman Kelly Ostler-Coyle.

The heavy floods, trigged by pouring rains which the country's Environment Agency described as a "1 in 1000 year", hit the north, particularly Cumbia, on Friday.

To help the flood hit areas, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged an extra 1 Million Pounds of Government money.

Meanwhile around 200 Lake District National Park staff are being urged to spend Friday helping flood stricken communities.

Agencies across the county are being asked to contact the authority if they need extra help in the aftermath of crippling deluges and the worst floods since weather records began.

LDNP’s director of park services, Bob Cartwright, said staff and volunteers had made a tremendous contribution over the weekend, particularly helping people in Cockermouth and Keswick.

He added: “Our main priority is supporting communities at this very difficult time. We are liaising with county and district councils, but know organisations are stretched to the limit and might welcome extra hands.

 “Friday was a staff training day, but with so much of the area underwater we want to help as many of the people who live and work here as we can.”

Rangers and volunteers have been patrolling and surveying the area, assessing damage, removing debris and repairing property.

Bowness Bay information centre, Windermere lake warden offices at Ferry Nab and Greenside Hostel, Glenridding, are all closed. Other national park services are operating normally.

People wanting to get out and about in the countryside have been advised not to venture on the fells or lower routes until flood waters subside.

LDNP’s head of countryside services, Mark Eccles, said conditions underfoot can be extremely difficult with saturated path surfaces and some damage to bridges, drainage, gates and stiles.

He explained: “If people have to venture out, they should have outdoor footwear and clothing, including good waterproofs. They should tell family or friends where they are going and what time they are due back. Torches, mobiles, food and water should also be carried.

“Riverside paths and river crossings are best avoided until water levels go down. Obviously mountain rescue teams are stretched to limit and we all have a responsibility to minimise risks and prevent call-outs.

“It’s all about commonsense. It is vital that people don’t go into flood water and don’t try to unblock drains.”

Heavy rain could bring more flooding to parts of Cumbria still struggling to cope with the damage caused by last week's unprecedented storms, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said today.

In an emergency statement to parliament, Benn said people in Cumbria, which was lashed by the heaviest downpours on record, should be prepared for more flooding.

"Further heavy rain is forecast overnight and there may be some further flooding," he said.

About 1,300 properties were flooded in Cumbria, more than 1,000 lost electricity and 12,000 lost their phone lines, he added. Six bridges have collapsed due to the force of the water.

The Met Office said parts of Cumbria and the Scottish borders could see 50 mm to 74 mm of rain by Wednesday morning, with wind gusting at up to 65 mph. Up to 100 cm of rain could fall on the Cumbrian fells.

"There will be persistent heavy rainfall in Cumbria on Tuesday," said Paul Davies, chief hydrometeorologist for the Met Office and the Environment Agency. "We are not expecting the same volumes of rainfall as last week and do not expect there to be the same widespread property flooding.

"We are concerned about the ongoing risk to infrastructure, particularly bridges, and the possible risk to life in the area as the river flows increase."

Hundreds of people were allowed back to their shops and businesses for the first time earlier on Monday to count the cost of the damage caused by flooding in Cockermouth, one of the worst-affected Cumbrian towns.

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