FEROCIOUS storms which have battered Cumbria will miss Suffolk - but the county was treated to a drenching today.Although the 3.01 inches of rainfall in the county so far this month is higher than the average of 2.

FEROCIOUS storms which have battered Cumbria will miss Suffolk - but the county was treated to a drenching today.

Although the 3.01 inches of rainfall in the county so far this month is higher than the average of 2.48 inches at this time of year, it will not touch the record 12.4 inches in 24 hours that deluged Cumbria last week.

The north-west has been hit by the highest rainfall ever recorded since records began in 1727.

The 24 inches of rain which have fallen in Cumbria is the amount Suffolk usually receives in six months.

The Environment Agency has warned another 3.9 inches of rain is forecast over high ground in Cumbria, which is already battling wide-spread destruction from last week's deluge.

Six bridges have collapsed since the storms and many more remain closed as a safety review of all 1,800 crossings is underway.