AN Indoor play area due to hold a Children in Need celebration tomorrow is just one casualty of widespread flood devastation in Ambleside.

Barry Parker, owner of Rufty Tufty’s at Rothay Holme, has had to cancel tommorow’s event and estimated the deluge had caused £20,000 damage to his business, which has only been trading 5 weeks.

“I came down at 8am this morning and the water was chest high. We’ve tried sandbagging but the water rose and went over the top. I can’t get into the building to start pumping water out,” he said.

Elsewhere, Rotahay Lodge Guesthouse rooms in Grasmere have been evacuated after water flooded in beneath doors.

Miler Field car park is also submerged beneath 3ft of water while the Kelsick Centre is on emergency standby to act as a reception area for anyone forced from their homes by the rising waters.

Ambleside has been cut off by the water. The A591 to Windermere, Grasmere road and the Kirkstone Pass are all blocked off.