Residents moved from flooded home

Residents were moved out of the care home on inflatable paths

Forty-seven elderly residents of a nursing home in West Sussex had to be rescued by firefighters after a nearby river burst its banks.

Water from the River Mole poured into The Gables Nursing Home, in Ifield Green, Crawley, shortly before 1900 GMT on Saturday, flooding the ground floor.

Residents were moved to a place of safety inside the building before being taken to another nursing home.

They were moved across up to 2ft of flood water on inflatable rescue paths.

Suffered shock

Firefighters brought the residents, many of whom were in wheelchairs, out of the nursing home before they were taken to alternative accommodation in Warninglid via mini buses and ambulances.

No-one was injured, but one woman was reported to have suffered shock.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue mobilised six fire engines, their Technical Rescue Unit, and a boat crew to the scene.

Fire crews were also called out to deal with at least a dozen calls from other flooded properties in Crawley, Partridge Green and Turners Hill to pump out water seeping into basements and cellars as a result of heavy downpours.

They also helped remove a sign left hanging from a hotel in Angel Street, Petworth, and a loose awning dangling from the front of a shop in Hawthorn Road, Bognor Regis, following strong winds.