SOUTH Lakeland and Eden are experiencing chaos after flash floods caused havoc throughout the county.

Eyewitnesses said Highgate resembled 'a river' shortly after the downpour, which hit the town at about 1.30pm.

Rebecca Julian, who works in an office block next to Iceland, said: "It has flooded here before over the years but I have never seen it like this.

"It was like waves of water coming in to the ground floor.

"The road itself was awash with water and it looked like a river."

Staff in Iceland were wading in shin-deep water. They kept their doors shut as the floodwater outside was higher than a foot.

There were also reports of flooding problems at Beast Banks, Blackhall Road, Milnthorpe Road, Dockray, Marks and Spencer car park and Hallgarth.

Businesses in Stramongate were also mopping up with Kendal town councillor Lisa Oswick, who represents Kirkland, helping sweep water from the newsagent's shop and Glamorous next door.

Due to the amount of standing water on roads, particularly in areas of South Cumbria such as Barrow, Dalton and Askham-in-Furness, police are urging motorists to take extreme care and allow extra time for journeys and reduce their speed.

At Appleby Primary School, flood water entered the foundation stage unit play area.

Fire crews attended the incident and pumped out water.

The school will be fully closed tomorrow (Friday, June 29) for all year groups.

Reports at 5pm today said traffic was extremely slow on the A591 and A590 south of Kendal due to areas of standing water on the road.

Emergency crews were called to multiple properties across South Lakeland.

Several properties on the Hallgarth estate have been flooded.

The fire service is starting to pump water out of houses on Low Garth, on the estate.

The road, which had new tarmac only two weeks ago, has risen under the force of the water.

Low Garth resident Leanne Shepherd, 33, said: “The entire downstairs of my house is flooded, but what can you do?”

Wendy Edwards, who also lives on the estate, said: "This has happened several times over the last few years.

"We are the lowest part of the estate and nothing seems to be done about the flooding issues here."

There is also flooding at Milnthorpe.

Richard Bell, owner of Bell Clothing, said: "I have been here 27 years and it's never been this bad.

"We had about eight inches of water in the street outside and the shop opposite me, A2A, was flooded inside."

The fire and rescue service has been stretched throughout Cumbria because of the deluge, with crews called to more than 50 incidents.

In South Lakeland, emergency crews have been called to flooding incidents at Sizergh Castle, Sizergh; a house in Parkside Drive, Arnside; Milnthorpe Road, Cumbria; Iceland store, Kendal; Low Garth, Kendal; Dawson Fold, Lyth, Kendal; Leasgill, Milnthorpe; and Castle Park School, Kendal.

In addition to Appleby Primary School, Eden firefighters attended incidents at Gamblesby; Sakeld Road, Langwathby; Town End Cottages, Kirkoswald; Sakeld Hall, Little Sakeld; Bracken Hill, Great Strickland; and Croglin.

And in Furness, crews were called to various roads in Barrow, including Wheatclose Road; Brisbane Park Infants School, Blake Street; Friars Lane, Ewan Close, Schneider Road, Sowserby Avenue, Lesh Lane.

In Askam, flooding was reported in Sharp Street and Duke Street.

Trains north of Lancaster on the West Coast Main Line have been cancelled, but replacement bus services are running.

South Lakeland District Council has made sandbags available in Ulverston, Windermere and Kendal for the public to collect from the following depots up to 8pm tonight:

North Lonsdale Road Depot, Ulverston LA12 9DX

Ecclerigg Depot, Windermere LA23 1LJ

Canal Head Depot, Kendal LA9 7BY

The SLDC Contact Centre is open Monday to Friday from 8am – 6pm to deal with any enquiries regarding flooding and the number to call is 0845 050 4434.

To keep up to date with flood warnings, visit the Environment Agency website at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31618.aspx

Please ring the News Desk on 01539 710161 if you hear of any flooding problems.

You can also text your flooding pictures in to 80360 beginning the message with 'KENEWS', followed by a space and then your description.