MORE than 100 rescues were carried out by Worcestershire volunteers in flood-devastated Cumbria as it braces itself for another weekend of rain.

Evacuation of elderly people from a large care home, rescuing a young girl in ill health and bringing two teenagers trapped in floodwaters to safety were just some of the rescues carried out by Pershore-based South Worcester Lifeguards Flood Rescue Unit.

Storm Desmond caused flooding in 200 homes and 600 people in the market town were forced to abandon properties, some for the third time in 10 years.

Volunteers from Worcestershire were called on in the early hours of Sunday morning by the National Co-ordination Centre in London to assist in the flood disaster in Cumbria as part of the Surf Life Saving GB flood response.

On arrival, the team was booked into the holding area in Penrith Police and Fire headquarters but almost immediately blue lighted into Carlisle to Warwick Road. The team completed over a 22-hour shift on the first day and 12hours on the second shift completing over 100 assisted rescues and with their sister team from Wessex completed nearly 200 assisted rescues overall.

Rescue helm Adam Milne and crews Abbi Jones and Dave Benson managed to get a diabetic young girl and family to safety after the girl had deteriorated and immediate evacuation was required.

The same crew rescued two teenagers who became trapped in the cold flood water during late evening and also crew rescued a St Bernard dog called Barney.

Adrian Mayhew, unit manager, was requested to run forward command point with the evacuation of a large care home as the particular boat the unit has was beneficial with its stability, low freeboard in ensuring the elderly people were carefully placed into the boat.

The unit finished operations at midnight and the following day was request to assist a missing person in another area.

They were eventually stood down on Monday evening.

South Worcester Lifeguards operates on a Sunday night teaching children water safety at Pershore swimming pool with other activities with the seniors members in trauma, flood rescue and provides safety cover at aquatic sporting events.