Boscastle residents return home

Residents are anxious to start rebuilding their community

Residents are returning to the village of Boscastle in north Cornwall 10 days after flash floods caused millions of pounds of damage.

It is a major step in the process of rebuilding the community.

The security cordon at the centre of the village was lifted at midday by North Cornwall District Council.

The council's chief executive, David Brown, thanked the contractors, agencies and the people of the village before handing the village back.

We've had a terrible disaster there and we'd like to make sure that nobody is actually killed in the rebuilding Charles Gilby, Health and Safety Executive

Mr Brown says every available member of his staff has worked round the clock to have everything ready for the village to be handed back.

He said: "People have lost dreams here, not just access to property and personal possessions.

"In some cases they've lost a lifetime's investment."

Francilla Mangal-Smart says it has been deeply distressing seeing the damage in the local restaurant she and her partner run.

She said: "It's been six years of hard work and slog to build up the business, and then you come and see it like this."

Boscastle villagers return for the first time since the flood to survey the damage.

In pictures

But villagers are being advised to take extra care because of the extensive reconstruction work.

Charles Gilby, the principle inspector from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the South West, says people will need to work carefully.

He said: "I'd imagine people will have a pent up desire to get on with the job of rebuilding their lives and we're particularly concerned that they're going to rush that.

"We've had a terrible disaster there and we'd like to make sure that nobody is actually killed in the rebuilding or seriously harmed."

Village fete

Local singers met in the village centre and performed the traditional folk song 'Rise Again' after the cordon was lifted.

Residents say the village fete, which was due to take place on Saturday, will go ahead, although they are not sure where it will be held.

Meanwhile, Visit Britain says it is promoting Cornwall across the world to let people know it is business as usual.

The tourism group which raises the global profile of UK destinations says it is doing all it can to counteract misunderstandings that the whole area has been devastated.

Seeing the damage close up has left some residents distressed

Several buildings were destroyed or damaged by a sudden flood on 16 August.

A 3m (10ft) wall of water crashed through Boscastle when 77mm (3in) of rain fell in just a couple of hours.

Cars in the harbour car park were thrown into the sea and dozens of people were airlifted to safety by seven rescue helicopters.

The harbour area is still a major construction site.

Residents have had to wear protective clothing when visiting their homes because of a risk of contamination, caused by fractured sewers.

The Environment Agency has been checking the sewerage system in the run-up to residents returning.