Guests forced to leave Carlisle restaurant in flash flood

Pauley Heron, co-founder of the theatre group, said the evening performance had to be cancelled.

“One of the light fittings had water just pouring out of it, at that point I realised something serious had happened,” he said.

He added the room where the props are stored had “water coming down the walls”.

A Carlisle college spokesperson said some lighting circuits had to be isolated but the auditorium was not flooded.

They said: “Initial inspections indicate only minor damage, and with students having finished for the summer break, the overall impact on the college is minimal.”