Flood houses at risk of collapse

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A riverside home, thought to have been weakened by Cumbria's recent floods, has partially collapsed and there are fears more will follow.

Four maisonettes have had to be evacuated in the past 24 hours in Low Mill, Greta Side, Keswick.

The outer wall of one home collapsed into the River Greta, exposing the building's interior.

Builder Mike Hodson, who assessed the damage, said there was a "serious danger" of more collapses.

It just looks like a bomb has hit the front of it - it's shocking Neighbour Stuart Garty <a class="" href="/local/cumbria/hi/front_page/newsid_8408000/8408672.stm">In pictures: Collapsed building</a>

He said: "The foundations have been washed out and there is nothing substantial underneath.

"I'm afraid it will all have to come down. You could not repair it as it would not be safe to ask anybody to do it."

Stuart Garty, who lives next door to the collapsed building, said he was shocked at the scale of the damage, which has left masonry, woodwork, and furniture in the river.

He said: "It just looks like a bomb has hit the front of it.

"You had the whole building there and the next minute it has just gone, it's shocking."

Emily Lane, who lives in a nearby house believed to be safe, said the recent floods were to blame.

'Very upset'

She said: "About 5pm we heard rumbling noises and looked out and saw some of the brick work was falling out of the building next door.

"Then, at about 11.30pm the police came round to evacuate the building until the structural engineers could see if it was safe or not.

"In the flooding three weeks ago the footings of the building were damaged by floodwater and the frost must have caused the wall to go."

She said her neighbours were "very upset" and were now living in temporary accommodation.

The towns of Keswick and Cockermouth were among those worst affected by the unprecedented downpour three weeks ago, which saw more than 1,300 properties flooded across the county.