This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/cornwall/6228422.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Boscastle on alert after flooding | Boscastle on alert after flooding |
| (5 days later) | |
| Floods have hit the Cornish village of Boscastle leaving shops and properties under about two feet of water. | Floods have hit the Cornish village of Boscastle leaving shops and properties under about two feet of water. |
| Cars have also been abandoned in the village which was devastated by flooding in 2004. | Cars have also been abandoned in the village which was devastated by flooding in 2004. |
| Cornwall Fire Brigade, which has crews pumping out water and helping residents, said the worst affected area was by the harbour. | Cornwall Fire Brigade, which has crews pumping out water and helping residents, said the worst affected area was by the harbour. |
| Search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RMB Chivenor are currently on standby. | Search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RMB Chivenor are currently on standby. |
| On 16 August 2004 torrential rain caused an estimated 440 million gallons of flood water to pour through the historic village, devastating many buildings and washing vehicles into the harbour and beyond. | On 16 August 2004 torrential rain caused an estimated 440 million gallons of flood water to pour through the historic village, devastating many buildings and washing vehicles into the harbour and beyond. |
| I thought 'Oh God, here we go again' Rose Martin, Boscastle resident | I thought 'Oh God, here we go again' Rose Martin, Boscastle resident |
| The Environment Agency said the flooding on Thursday had been caused by prolonged rain, which had now eased. | The Environment Agency said the flooding on Thursday had been caused by prolonged rain, which had now eased. |
| Paul Gainey told BBC News: "This is just surface water - there is no river water flooding." | Paul Gainey told BBC News: "This is just surface water - there is no river water flooding." |
| Mr Gainey said residents were using sandbags to protect their properties. | Mr Gainey said residents were using sandbags to protect their properties. |
| Resident Hedley Venning said some properties close to the river had been flooded by up to 3ft but that the waters were starting to fall. | Resident Hedley Venning said some properties close to the river had been flooded by up to 3ft but that the waters were starting to fall. |
| "The river is receding and most of the emergency services are going, so we're all relieved," he said. | "The river is receding and most of the emergency services are going, so we're all relieved," he said. |
| "We thought this was going be part two. It was just a case of holding on and hoping for the best." | "We thought this was going be part two. It was just a case of holding on and hoping for the best." |
| Cornwall Fire Brigade was called to the scene of the flooding | Cornwall Fire Brigade was called to the scene of the flooding |
| Another resident said: "It's a muddy mess - we didn't expect to see again." | Another resident said: "It's a muddy mess - we didn't expect to see again." |
| Staff and customers at Clovelly Clothing on the harbourside were trapped for a time by rising floodwater before they were able to leave the shop. | Staff and customers at Clovelly Clothing on the harbourside were trapped for a time by rising floodwater before they were able to leave the shop. |
| Rose Martin, who lives at the top of the village, said she was worried the village was about to experience a repeat of the devastation. | Rose Martin, who lives at the top of the village, said she was worried the village was about to experience a repeat of the devastation. |
| "Our conservatory was really shaking with the pressure of the rain," she said. | "Our conservatory was really shaking with the pressure of the rain," she said. |
| "Exactly like it did three years ago and I thought 'Oh God, here we go again'." | "Exactly like it did three years ago and I thought 'Oh God, here we go again'." |
| The fire brigade said the river has not burst its banks. | The fire brigade said the river has not burst its banks. |
| Adrian Prescott, chairman of Boscastle Chamber of Commerce, said the situation seemed to be under control. | Adrian Prescott, chairman of Boscastle Chamber of Commerce, said the situation seemed to be under control. |
| "There's a few [properties] which have obviously taken some flood water - there's a couple of businesses, one definitely that's had some damage on the lower level, and probably another one that's got water in it," he said. | "There's a few [properties] which have obviously taken some flood water - there's a couple of businesses, one definitely that's had some damage on the lower level, and probably another one that's got water in it," he said. |
| "But I mean we're talking nowhere near the scale of last time." | "But I mean we're talking nowhere near the scale of last time." |
| Work carried out by the Environment Agency to deepen the river banks was praised by the landlord of the Riverside Hotel. | Work carried out by the Environment Agency to deepen the river banks was praised by the landlord of the Riverside Hotel. |
| Peter Templar said: "The deeper river banks have made a tremendous difference and thank goodness the tide was out." | Peter Templar said: "The deeper river banks have made a tremendous difference and thank goodness the tide was out." |
| 'Full alert' | 'Full alert' |
| He said most of the villagers had been on sandbag duty and clean-up mode. | He said most of the villagers had been on sandbag duty and clean-up mode. |
| North Cornwall District Council spokesman Mike Beckett told BBC News the situation in the village was being closely monitored. | North Cornwall District Council spokesman Mike Beckett told BBC News the situation in the village was being closely monitored. |
| "The rain appears to have eased off slightly and the river level is okay," he said. | "The rain appears to have eased off slightly and the river level is okay," he said. |
| Graham King from the local coastguard team said: "We're just being careful. | Graham King from the local coastguard team said: "We're just being careful. |
| "If it started really chucking it down again and the river levels came up, obviously coinciding with a high tide, the river could back up and we don't want that." | "If it started really chucking it down again and the river levels came up, obviously coinciding with a high tide, the river could back up and we don't want that." |
Have you been affected by the flooding? Send us your accounts using the form below. | |