RIVERS OF MUD

Deluge caused collapse.... with more misery on way

- MARTIN FRICKER

THERE had been hour upon hour of heavy rain brought in on Storm Bert before a landslide on an old coal tip sent a muddy mess of rocks, soil and trees into the former mining village of Cwmtillery.

The terrifying torrent in the South Wales community struck on Sunday night, leaving a 3ft deep layer of stinking sludge.

Residents were evacuated, climbing from windows to avoid opening their front doors to let the mud in.

One shocked local Rob Scholes, 75, told the Mirror: "It was scary, to be honest. We had to climb out of a window to escape.

"We didn't hear it coming but a neighbour saw there was a big tree lying at the end of the street and realised what had happened.

"She told us to make sure we didn't open our front door because the house would have filled with mud.

"The mud was knee-deep, it was horrible. It's scary to think it has all come down off the mountainside."

As Rob relived his ordeal, the Environment Secretary Steve Reed was telling MPs that more flooding is "likely" this week.

Mr Reed warned that communities should brace for more disruption.

He said around 28,000 properties were being protected by Environment Agency flood defences, with around 107 properties flooded in England.

Mr Reed said: "There has been a focus on the Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, the River Weaver in Cheshire, and the River Avon in Bath, including Chippenham and Bradford-upon-Avon. Further flooding is likely over the next few days."

He confirmed that flood defences are in the "worst condition on record", blaming previous Tory governments.