Clear-up After Heavy Rain

9 November 2010, 16:19 | Updated: 10 November 2010, 17:26

Families in Emsworth have been clearing up after around 50 homes were flooded.

Residents of a 200-metre stretch of Bridge Road in Emsworth were offered evacuation by police boat and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's water support unit after the street became submerged under about a metre of water.

A week-old baby was also taken to safety.

A blocked culvert was blamed for the chaos.

Meanwhile the Isle of Wight was badly affected as well - highways staff have been inspecting roads and arranging for drains and gullies blocked by debris to be cleared.

The fire service remains on site in Ryde. Throughout the period, the service dealt with flooding-related incidents at nearly 100 properties, the vast majority in the Ryde area.

At the height of the flooding, all available crews were either deployed or on standby with around 70 fire-fighters involved in the flood clearance. One of the most dramatic responses was that by the brigade's specialist water rescue teams who entered the fast flowing Monktonmead Brook at Ryde - that had burst its banks - to clear away a wall that had collapsed into it.

The brigade activated its plans to work with other agencies including the police, ambulance and IW Council's emergency control centre that was set up on Tuesday morning to help co-ordinate the response.

With more rain and high winds forecast on Thursday, the council is urging residents living in areas prone to flooding to take precautions in the event of further flooding.