The emergency services were braced today for more heavy rain after England’s wettest day on record claimed the life of a “heroic” policeman.

Thousands of others have been left counting the cost of flooded homes and businesses.

The “biblical” downpour over Cumbria was the highest level of rainfall measured in England since records began, forecasters said, with 314mm – more than one foot of rain – falling in 24 hours.

The grim record brought chaos yesterday as floods swept away bridges, forced hundreds of people from their homes and closed roads.

Constable Bill Barker, who would have celebrated his 45th birthday today, was directing motorists away from Northside bridge in Workington, Cumbria, when it collapsed and he disappeared into the swollen waters of the River Derwent.

In Shropshire the flood warning which had been on the River Severn in Shrewsbury for two days was lifted but other stretches of the river in the county remained under flood watch.

Several roads in the Shrewsbury area were closed.

John Warner, Shropshire Star weatherman, said: “There is more rain coming in today and strong winds. The Lake District is not going to suffer like they did on Thursday. The rain belts are moving pretty quickly.”

He said there could be some hail showers and thunder tomorrow.

With “heavy and persistent” rain expected to fall today on already saturated ground, rescue services in Cumbria were braced to deal with the possibility of flood water levels rising again.

Environment secretary Hilary Benn said the flooding was the result of “an extreme weather event”.