I've never seen anything like this in my life'

COMMUNITY RALLIES AS WATER FORCES RESIDENTS FROM HOMES

- GRETA SIMPSON

RESIDENTS of Palatine Road in West Didsbury have spoken of their ordeal after serious flooding on New Year's Day left them trapped in their homes.

Torrential rain on December 31 and into the early hours of January 1 caused the River Mersey to burst its banks, quickly spilling onto neighbouring flood plains and then the streets beyond.

The dramatic scenes continued on Wednesday evening as scores of residents of the flats and hotels along the road, including one housing asylum seekers, were rescued in boats by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Bolton Mountain Rescue.

The M.E.N. understands they were then signposted to alternative accommodation, including the nearby Didsbury Mosque, which provided residents with a hot meal, dry clothing and a dozen or so beds for the night.

"Everybody in the local community was tremendous," Coun Debbie Hilal told the M.E.N.

She is the Labour councillor for Didsbury West and was at the mosque by 5pm.

"Lots of bedding was delivered: duvets, rugs, blankets, clothes. A couple of residents came by with baby formula as we were short and they stayed nearly all evening. The community really came together to help, it was a great effort.

"The mosque were so kind as well. They made a hot meal, chicken and rice and nobody went short of food: cakes, biscuits, crisps, everything you could think of.

"It was a very stressful and difficult situation for the residents affected, but as a councillor I want to express my thanks to the mosque, the council, the fire service and police and everybody who came to help."