Published at 10:57, Monday, 16 November 2009

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for the north west.

Firefighters pump flood water away from Innovia, Wigton

Heavy rain and gale force winds are predicted over the next few days.

Cumbria has already had a wet weekend, with some parts of the county having to deal with floods.

Staff at Innovia Films in Wigton had to call on firefighters to help pump out five feet of water from part of the factory on Saturday morning.

A blocked culvert had backed up in a yard outside and the crews needed to use a pump from Kendal to help clear the standing water.

They spent at least six hours pumping it into the neighbouring Wiza Beck, then had to return to repeat the job in the early evening.

George Allan, Innovia plant manager, said: “On Saturday the water levels were too high but they dropped on Sunday thanks to the fire brigade and we managed to get through without production being affected.

“We started to remove the blockage and found carpet, old chairs and for sale signs. We pulled out three skips of rubbish that had washed down.

"By about 2pm on Sunday we were back to normal.”

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk