Builder escapes floods landslide

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A man has told how tonnes of mud narrowly missed his home after heavy rainfall triggered a landslide in the Cumbrian fells.

Colin Downer was asleep as the mountain of sodden earth cascaded hundreds of metres towards his home above the village of Threlkeld, near Keswick.

A dry stone wall helped to stem the torrent, which came to rest just feet from his front door at Blease Farm.

The property escaped serious damage, but was partially flooded.

The 61-year-old builder said he was "counting his blessings" after realising how close he came to losing his home, and potentially his life.

The fells around his farmhouse home were soaked by three days of torrential rain which fell across Cumbria.

So much rain fell that a mountain stream burst its banks, changed direction and careered towards Mr Downer's home.

Mr Downer said: "It sounded like a train. It was a very high-pitched noise and I ducked thinking the roof was coming in.

"When I looked out I found a wall of water and slurry just outside.

"I am counting my blessings. We were pretty lucky."