Storm Christoph: Homes flooded as 'danger to life' warnings issued

21 January 2021, 07:21 | Updated: 21 January 2021, 12:43

A flood victim has described how she was forced to watch flood water pour into her home during Storm Christoph as yellow 'danger to life' warnings are in place across the country.

Hundreds of people had to flee their homes overnight after Storm Christoph cause havoc with widespread flooding across the UK.

Some 2,000 properties in the East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden areas of Greater Manchester were due to be evacuated on Wednesday night because of rising water levels, the city council said.

Gabrielle Burns-Smith, 44, said her home in Lymm, Cheshire, had flooded on Wednesday evening, and her furniture has "just gone" due to the rising water levels.

She said: "By 3pm yesterday the water outside was shin deep and by 4pm it was knee deep, and we were seriously worrying that the house was going to be breached. Then it was.

"We're still in the house, we can't go anywhere because we can't get the car out, the water is just too deep. Both our living rooms are flooded.

"At 1am I sat and just watched the water coming through the back door.

"We've moved everything we can upstairs. Some of the furniture we haven't been able to bring upstairs, so that's just gone."

Ms Burns-Smith said all of the four houses on Warrington Lane in Lymm, Cheshire, had been affected by flooding.

She said: "We are surrounded by fields full of water and there are hills at the back of us, so we're just waiting for all the water to come down from them.

"We managed to get a couple of hours sleep but you almost don't want to go to sleep because you don't know what you'll wake up to.

"We've lived here two-and-a-half years and as we moved in there were new grates and drains put in, so we've never been flooded here before.

"Our neighbours who have been here for years say they have never seen it like this, with this amount of water down the lane."

It comes as heavy rain and snow continued to fall across England and Wales, with many rivers at "dangerously high levels", the Environment Agency said.

Four "severe" flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, were issued by the agency for the River Mersey at Didsbury and Northenden, and in Maghull.

A fifth was issued by Natural Resources Wales for Bangor on Dee.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier urged people to heed the flood warnings and evacuate their properties when told to do so.

Lib Dem councillor Richard Kilpatrick said he was among those who had to evacuate overnight after police came knocking on doors in The Beeches in Didsbury, with the local mosque opening its doors.

He told Manchester Evening News: "The atmosphere has been a mixture of anxiety and disbelief I think. I helped door knocking to inform residents.

"We are fine and spirits are high. We just don't expect it to happen here, the defences have always been enough."

North Wales Police said its officers were helping the fire service to evacuate homes in Ruthin, Denbighshire, and urged people to avoid the area.

The force tweeted: "Officers have been called to assist @DenbighshireCC and @NWFRS in #Ruthin, where some homes are being evacuated.

"Regrettably, people who do not live locally are driving to the area to 'see the floods'. Please do not stretch our resources by adding to the problem."

The force also urged residents of Bangor on Dee to head to Ysgol Sant Dunawd for shelter after the severe flood warning was issued for the area.

Wrexham Council said it was "working with partners to address any need for temporary rest centres for residents likely to be affected".

Meanwhile, residents in Maghull were advised to leave their properties as soon as possible after a severe flood warning was issued, Sefton Council said.

A council spokesman said heavy rain had led to raised water levels and flooding from the River Alt which was set to increase.

"Water levels at Dover Brook, near the River Alt, reached 2.5m today, which is unprecedented for that area, modelling from the Environment Agency, including anticipated overnight rainfall, will take that level to 3.5m," the spokesman said.

Downing Street said Covid-secure facilities would be available for any people forced to evacuate as a result of the weather.

Mr Johnson said steps were being taken to ensure the transport and energy networks were prepared so that electricity outages would not be "severe" and that there were sufficient supplies of sandbags.

He told reporters: "There are some times where I have been to scenes where, alas, people have decided not to obey the advice and not evacuated.

"It is their right not to do so if they choose - it's always people's right to stay wherever they are.

"But it really is advisable - follow the advice. If you are told to leave your home then you should do so."

The Environment Agency has issued a further 191 flood warnings across England, with 228 less severe flood alerts, mainly across the Midlands and north of the country.

In Wales, 48 flood warnings and 57 flood alerts are in place, while six flood alerts are in force in Scotland.

Almost the whole of England, Wales and Northern Ireland are subject to yellow weather warnings for rain until Thursday morning, with a more serious amber warning stretching from the East Midlands to the Lake District.

The amber alert warns of the risk of flooding and deep floodwaters which could pose a risk to life, and there are further warnings for snow and ice in Scotland.

An amber warning for snow in parts of southern Scotland warned around 30cm could fall in areas above 400m, with up to 10cm likely to accumulate in lower regions until 8am on Thursday.