Clean up begins after flooding

Towns and villages in Derbyshire were hit by flooding

Parts of Derbyshire are counting the cost after some of the worst flooding for decades.

The worst affected area was Ashbourne, where nine people were moved from their homes and several cars were submerged when the River Henmore burst its banks.

Residents were advised to pick up sandbags as houses in Fenny Bentley and Bradbourne were also inundated.

Flooded drains led to roads in Matlock, Clay Cross, Stenson and Findern becoming impassable.

'Terrible mess'

During Saturday, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service took more than 40 calls from people whose homes were affected by the heavy downpours.

Ashbourne resident Lynn Leese said: "We were woken up in the early hours by a rushing noise and when we looked out we saw the old railway line was just full of water.

"It flooded the car park, you could only see the roofs of the cars, and some of the bungalows down the hill had water coming in.

"One old lady who was on oxygen was evacuated by the fire crews and now the place is a terrible mess."

Margaret Dougan from Beresford Arms Hotel in Ashbourne said she expects the damage caused by flooding at her business to cost tens of thousands of pounds.

All her guests had to be moved into alternative accommodation.

"The smell from the sewerage and water is overpowering. I just thought here we go again - having to get everyone out and call the fire brigade and everything - and having to refit everything and retile and redecorate and recarpet - months and months of work," Mrs Dougan said.