Family trapped as river overflows

The Meadowside estate in Antrim was flooded

An Antrim woman has been describing how she, her husband and her son were trapped in their house as flood waters rose to over 10ft.

Lesley O'Hagan from Meadowside said the Sixmilewater River broke its banks and flooded their street.

"The water was as high as the pumping station outside," she said.

"It came right into our home and came halfway up the stairs. Our fridge freezer was floating in the water," she said.

"At about 5am this morning, some people came around in a boat and offered to take us out through the bedroom window.

"But we decided to stay upstairs as it seemed safer than getting out through a window."

Mrs O'Hagan said cars on the street outside were submerged, telephones were not working and all her electrical equipment had been destroyed in the flooding.

"The water is still at the bottom step of the stairs. Now we just to have to begin the job clearing up," she said.