Huge downpour leaves Pennine towns inundated once again

Police urged residents in the flooded areas of Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and Todmorden to stay indoors and move upstairs if possible while motorists were urged to avoid the area.

There were concerns about a reservoir above Hebden Bridge as water poured down the valley, causing flooding around another dam lower down. Checks by Environment Agency experts later allayed fears of flooding from the reservoir.

Calderdale Council has set up an incident room to investigate why so much water was passing through Nutclough Water dam, with the support of the Environment Agency.

Businesses and residents in Hebden Bridge were forced to mount a desperate battle after heavy rain created torrents of water carrying stones and small boulders into the town centre, overwhelming drains and leading to rapidly rising water levels.

Hebden Bridge Canal breached its banks and the town’s library had to be evacuated.

More than 100 pupils were left at Calder High School in Mytholmroyd as buses heading for the Hebden Bridge were unable to get through.

Parents of pupils collected children on foot and school staff stayed into the evening to feed the remaining children.

The area’s flood warden Keith Crabtree told the Yorkshire Post scores of homes and businesses in Hebden Bridge which were hit by flooding last month had been hit again.

“Some of them have not even got back in after last time but some had started cleaning up and they were just trying to keep the water out with sandbags,” he said.

Last night Calder Valley’s Tory MP Craig Whittaker described events as “absolutely devastating” for the three towns.

He said he planned to speak to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman as soon as possible to seek extra financial support for victims of flooding in the area.

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “Heavy rainfall this afternoon has led to flooding in the area and has made Hebden Bridge impassable by car.

“People are asked to avoid trying to drive into the area at this time because they risk becoming stranded in their vehicle. Also, they may force water into businesses and homes which are on the roadside.”

Before road closures were put in place staff at the White Lion pub in Hebden Bridge said cars driving past were sending flood water into the building.

The pub and hotel filled with people sheltering from the deluge and escaping the floodwaters which rose rapidly in the town centre, inundating lower-lying businesses.

One local resident who took refuge said: “It seemed to come up much faster than the other week. It was throwing drain covers up. People are booking in for the night here because they can’t get their cars out of town.”

Calderdale Council said: “A very heavy cloudburst above the hillside on Keighley Road has resulted in a large volume of surface water overwhelming drainage systems in Hebden Bridge.”

Police officers at the scene said water was “leaking” from the Nutclough Water dam and pouring across the A6033 Keighley Road.

The incident room set up by the council was later stood down as flood water receded. Most roads in Hebden Bridge were reported to be passable by late evening.

Last month’s flooding affected more than 500 homes and businesses in the three towns. Last week, the Prince of Wales visited Hebden Bridge to witness the aftermath after a month’s rain fell in 24 hours.