Flats Flooded And Travel Chaos As Heavy Rain Batters North West

BBC An aerial view from a balcony showing a number of cars partially submerged in brown, muddy floor water with their roofs showing. — Helen Scott said she had to wade through water to get to her flat, and woke up to an even worse situation

People are trapped in a block of flats without running water, as heavy rain caused flooding and travel chaos across the North West.

Helen Scott, who lives in a flat inside a converted mill in Stockport, said the car park and first floor of the property was almost totally submerged.

She said she had been out in Manchester for New Year’s Eve and returned to Meadow Mill, on Water Street, about 03:00 GMT to find herself having to “wade through knee-deep water”.

“I had a little bit of sleep and I’ve woken up to all of the car park and the entire first floor completely submerged in water,” Ms Scott said.

“Can’t get in, can’t get out, the fire brigade are here.

“They’re currently using a boat to bring some fresh water into the building because all of the residents have no running water, no electricity, I haven’t even had a shower yet post-New Year’s Eve.”

The view from the top of Meadow Mill in Stockport where floodwater surged into the car park and ground floor

An aerial view from a balcony showing a number of cars partially submerged in brown, muddy floor water with their roofs showing. — The view from the top of Meadow Mill in Stockport where floodwater surged into the car park and ground floor

Ms Scott, who lives on the top floor, said a number of cars had been completely submerged in water, including her own.

“The fact I’ve still got a couple of Proseccos still in me has taken the edge of this situation,” she joked.

“Give me a couple of hours and I think the horror of the start of 2025 is going to sink in.”

Weather warnings

The Met Office had issued an amber warning for rain across swathes of Lancashire and Greater Manchester until 09:00 GMT, while a yellow warning also covers parts of Merseyside and Cheshire until 11:00.

Dozens of flood alerts are also in place.

Flooding on the line between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport train stations has also led to major disruption and cancellations.

In Warrington, three people were rescued from a car by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service on Cliff Lane, and in Booth Lane, Lymm, another three people were rescued in the early hours.

The service used a rescue raft to get to the vehicles in both cases.

A car was stuck in flood water in Gressingham, Lancashire

Hornby Fire Station The rear brake lights of a car can be seen on a flooded road, which is in darkness but illuminated by the lights from a fire and rescue vehicle behind the camera. — A car was stuck in flood water in Gressingham, Lancashire

Trains will not operate between Manchester Airport and the city’s stations on Wednesday, or on routes between Manchester and Liverpool Lime Street, or from both Liverpool and Manchester to Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

TransPennine Express urged customers on its services not to travel before at least 12:00, saying flooding was causing “significant issues” in Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

Environment Agency contractors monitoring water levels in Didsbury, Manchester

Environment Agency A contractor in a yellow reflective jacket, printed with the words Environment Agency, and a black hood stands by a green fence shining a torch into brown, muddy water — Environment Agency contractors monitoring water levels in Didsbury, Manchester

Flooding also caused severe disruption across the road network, with the M57 closed in both directions between junction 6 at Kirkby and junction 7 at Aintree, according to National Highways.

It said the westbound M56 between junction 6 for Manchester Airport and junction 7 for Bowdon was also expected to be closed “for some time” due to flooding across all three lanes.

In Lancashire, firefighters were called to Gressingham Bridge to reports of a car stuck in the water at 21:30 on Tuesday, but the service said the vehicle was found to be empty.

The Met Office said heavy rainfall in some places could reach more than 10cm (4in) of rain.

Overnight, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service said it had a high number of 999 calls due to flooding.

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