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" Bill was a wonderful police officer and a real family man. He leaves behind a wife and four children in their home in Egremont- two boys and two girls - aged between 8 and 16. He was due to to celebrate his 45th birthday tomorrow. Bill is a hero who died saving the lives of others and our thoughts are with his family at this devastating time. He was a much loved friend, colleague and an inspiration to everyone he knew - he will be sadly missed.
"His friends say he loved being a Police officer and, a passionate biker, he was part of the Constabulary's dedicated Roads Policing Unit. He was a sterling officer and had won a number of awards throughout his 25 year service with Cumbria Constabulary.
"Whilst this is an extremely difficult time for everyone involved in the rescue operation, our officers and staff continue to work valiently to ensure the public remains safe."
PC Barker's wife, Hazel, has offered the following moving tribute:
"How do you put into words how you feel about somebody you are so proud of? Bill was my best friend, my forever friend, and an amazing dad. Even when he was exhausted from work he would always take time out for the kids.
"I have the comfort of knowing that Bill died doing the job he loved and the fact that he was helping others is just typical Bill.
"I'd now ask that the media respect the family's privacy at this time and leave us to grieve in peace."
An article in The Sun covering the death of PC Barker reads;
The proud widow of a hero police constable swept away by raging floods paid a moving tribute to her husband today.
PC Bill Barker, 44, fell into the River Derwent when the bridge he was standing on collapsed.
His heartbroken wife Hazel said today: "How do you put into words how you feel about somebody you are so proud of?
"Bill was my best friend, my forever friend, and an amazing dad. Even when he was exhausted from work, he would always take time out for the kids.
"I have the comfort of knowing that Bill died doing the job he loved, and the fact that he was helping others is just typical Bill."
The body of PC Barker was found washed up on a beach following a desperate search for the missing cop.
Cumbria Police chief constable Craig Mackey said: "It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that the body found this afternoon is that of our friend and colleague PC Bill Barker."
"I have the comfort of knowing that Bill died doing the job he loved, and the fact that he was helping others is just typical Bill."
The body of PC Barker was found washed up on a beach following a desperate search for the missing cop.
Cumbria Police chief constable Craig Mackey said: "It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that the body found this afternoon is that of our friend and colleague PC Bill Barker."
"He leaves behind a wife and four children in their home in Egremont - two boys and two girls - aged between eight and 16.
"Bill is a hero who died saving the lives of others and our thoughts are with his family at this devastating time. He was a much-loved friend, colleague and an inspiration to everyone he knew - he will be sadly missed."
The Queen expressed her sympathy tonight for all those hit by the "devastating" floods which claimed the life of a "heroic" policeman.
In a message to Lord Lieutenants in affected areas, she said she was "deeply concerned and saddened by the dreadful flooding across Britain".
Prime Minister Gordon Brown earlier praised PC Barker saying the tragic officer was a "very heroic, very brave man".
Tory leader David Cameron paid tribute to PC Barker.
He said: "PC Bill Barker has died a true hero. We should all pay tribute to his bravery. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this sad time."
He added: "These are absolutely dreadful floods and I feel incredibly sorry for the many people who have been flooded out of their homes and who will be desperately worried about what the future holds."
Mr Cameron also paid tribute to the emergency services - saying their work had been "magnificent".
Cumbria Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham said PC Barker and a colleague had gone on to the bridge on foot to help motorists.
He added: "Unfortunately when they were on the bridge, the bridge gave way just due to the volume of water and PC Barker went into the water and was swept away."
"Horrendous" weather conditions had earlier hampered the frantic hunt for the Roads Policing Officer.
A lifeboat scouring the sea off the Cumbrian coast was forced to turn back because conditions were so bad.
But this afternoon police confirmed that his body had been found washed up on the beach.
A police spokesman said of the brave cop earlier today: "He is a valued colleague and friend of many officers and staff within the Constabulary - and to those in West Cumbria where he lives and serves."
He added: "This is an extremely difficult time for the officer's colleagues, who are still committed to supporting the community and dealing with the flood situation."
FOUR bridges collapsed, main roads were blocked and schools were closed in the towns of Workington and nearby Cockermouth today as water levels rose to almost 8ft in the rain battered North.
Last night a major operation was launched to rescue 200 people in Cockermouth after the area was hit by fifteen inches of rain.
Forecasters said the flooding was caused by a possible "historic" amount of rainfall in Cumbria over the last 36 hours.
Julian Mayes of MeteoGroup UK said: "It looks like a very historical event, it may well have broken the record for rainfall in the area in November."
The Army were called in this morning to assist in house-to-house searches across the stricken county.
The Environment Agency still had six severe flood warnings in place today — all in Cumbria — 29 flood warnings, and 65 less serious flood watches.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution divisional inspector north Andy Clift said the rescue operation would continue throughout the day.
He said: "RNLI teams arrived on scene around 10pm last night. They have worked through the night in horrendous conditions, evacuating people from their homes in Cockermouth."
RAF helicopters also airlifted at least 50 people from buildings in the town.
Dozens of others were helped to safety by the coastguard, police, fire and rescue and mountain rescue teams.
Mr Brown said that he had spoken to Cumbria Chief Constable Craig Mackey to assure him that any help he needed would be provided.
The PM said: "Our thoughts are with all those who have been impacted by these floods and our thanks go out to the emergency services who continue in their extraordinary efforts to help the people affected."
The flood became critical in Cockermouth and Workington last night after the rivers Cocker and Derwent burst their banks.
Workington MP Tony Cunningham said today the flood was "of biblical proportions" and seen only "once every 1,000 years".
The Labour MP revealed: "The scale and the force of the devastation in Cockermouth is huge."
He added of the Northside bridge: "I went down to the bridge last night and I've never seen the River Derwent as wide as it was.
"The force of the river was absolutely incredible. This is a stone bridge, to wash away a bridge of that size and dimension is incredible."
Early this morning desperate people in the towns were breaking through the rooftops of their homes to be rescued by the emergency teams.
Some people were up to their necks and had to grab hold of lines rigged up by rescuers battling against the torrent of water.
Others had to be carried from their homes to escape the rising waters.
Hundreds were left homeless and reception centres were set up at schools and leisure centres.
By the early hours there were five RAF Sea King helicopters out responding to flooding in and around Cockermouth.
Nine lifeboats had been launched to rescue people trapped as water surged down the main street in the centre of the town.
Squadron Leader Dave Webster, from the RAF, said poor visibility was limiting the number of rescue missions that were possible by air, but some residents had been taken off roofs.
He added: "We've had some people who've been evacuated from a pub, they've had to be taken off.
"We've had other people who have been rescued from buildings that have been cut off and a couple where they've been in danger of collapse."
Robert Runcie from the Environment Agency said the situation was "very serious" adding at least 500 homes in the area could be flooded.
He added: "This is a very, very serious situation. The worst isn't over yet and we've got to have sympathy for those people who have lost their property and whose property is under threat."
John Carlin, owner of the Allerdale Court Hotel, in Cockermouth town centre, said: "The amount of rain has been staggering.
"It's desperate. The centre is completely flooded. The water is up to the waists of the firefighters."
Local resident Kirsty Hutchison added: "It's been unbelievable. As soon as the river broke it came up very quickly."
Beryl Ireland, 53, who works at The Sun Inn in the town, said: "I've had people in tears coming in here tonight with their houses flooded.
"I'm going to put up some friends who have got no accommodation tonight just to help them out."
Several regulars were airlifted from The Black Bull pub because they couldn't leave by foot or car. Police last night said they are braced for rivers to keep rising in Cockermouth and nearby Keswick.
Police Chief Supt Steve Johnson said last night: "I'd like to say it's reached a peak, but I cannot.
"The emergency services are clubbing together.
We are trying to get to all those houses that are in trouble where people are trapped and to get them to the reception centres."
United Utilities revealed last night that around 1,145 homes are without electricity in the Cockermouth area, plus 349 in Keswick.
Temporary defences were erected to protect 400 houses in Carlisle - where £38million barriers built after the 2005 floods held up.
At the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria, almost 5,000 workers were sent home because of road conditions.
Meteorologists say 15 inches of rain has fallen in Cumbria in 30 hours - 2½ months' worth.
Winds of up to 70mph blighted drivers and a 5mph limit caused havoc for trains.
The weather is set to improve today before eight hours of rain is forecast for Cumbria tomorrow.
The Environment Agency said the tidal surge could raise the flood risk along the west coast up from Aberystwyth, in Wales.
Elsewhere, roads were shut and homes were at risk in Rossendale, Lancs, as the Irwell burst its banks. In Wales firemen freed people stuck in cars as 90mph gusts blew down power lines and thousands of acres of farmland were submerged.
The floods are the worst since those that devastated parts of Britain in 2005.
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