Gordon Brown has pledged an extra £1 million of Government money to help flood-hit communities in Cumbria.
The Prime Minister announced the funding on a visit to the area, where he met with rescue workers and residents evacuated from their homes after the record-breaking rainfall.
The emergency services were advising people not to return to their houses yet, as forecasters predicted fresh downpours.
The Prime Minister, during a two-hour visit to Cockermouth, met representatives from the emergency services and local people who had been evacuated from their homes and were staying in shelters.
He also toured the devastated centre of the town, which is now strewn with debris from floods, with cars coming to rest against trees from the force of the torrents, shop windows smashed and inches of sludge and silt covering the road.
He announced the government will match the £1m in aid already given by the North West Development Agency.
Mr Brown said: "I have decided we will increase the amount of resources to the community.
"We will match the regional development agency money, to help local businesses, homeowners and tenants, making that £2 million.
"We will give an extra £1 million so immediate support can be given.
"We will do everything we can to support the local community in its hour of need."
