Last updated at 12:07, Friday, 23 November 2012

Sand bags and water pumps were out in West Cumbria yesterday as heavy rain brought flash floods to homes and businesses.

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A fire service pumping truck was called out to Fernleigh Close, Seaton, as water from fields began to flood a house.

The water began running off the fields around 11am and by noon it was rising in the road.

Sand bags were put out to stop the water getting further than the garage.

The house owner, who did not want to be named, said it had been hit by flash flooding three times this year despite a drain being put in front of the garage last year to stop it.

Firefighter Kevin Vannet estimated that the water was 10 inches high in the road.

The water coming off the field ran down Doreen Dustin’s drive.

The 67-year-old said: “It’s like a river in that field. If it happens at night or if I go away on holiday I start to worry but there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Flimby Papershop lost half its trade for the day as standing water across the A596 stopped all but the hardiest of customers getting to its door.

Owner Nathan Newman said the water was so high that every time a large vehicle went past the spray hit his first-floor windows.

Water leaked underneath the front door because of the pressure, he added.

Mr Newman said the problem arose every time there was heavy rain.

Connect Roads, which maintains the main Workington to Maryport road on behalf of Cumbria County Council, went out to clear the drains but Mr Newman said the water soon rose again.

He added: “They need to fix the road. It needs a proper gully to relieve the water or the drainage needs to be sorted out because it can’t handle the volume.”

Standing water also caused problems for drivers across the area, including Netherhall Corner and Netherhall Road in Maryport, the A594 Maryport to Dearham road, the Maryport to Broughton Moor road, below the old railway bridge at Seaton and near Chapel Brow roundabout towards Great Clifton and towards Bridgefoot.

First published at 10:54, Friday, 23 November 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk