LONDON (November 20, 2009)--Britain's air force helped rescue about 200 people who were stranded by rising floodwaters caused by torrential rainfall in a tourist region of northern England.

Worst hit were the towns of Cockermouth and Keswick, in England's picturesque Lake District, where authorities say air force helicopters were being used to evacuate people caught in the floods.

More than 8 million people visit the Lake District National Park every year.

The Environment Agency said Friday that hundreds of properties in Cumbria were flooded as the waters rose rapidly Thursday night.

Six severe flood warnings were in place, all in the northern region of Cumbria.