Emergency services boosted river defenses in England’s Croston village on Tuesday (December 29) after warnings of more rain raised concerns it would be hit by further flooding.
The village in Lancashire has been severely battered by heavy rain in recent weeks, leaving many homes without power.
Severe flood warnings were issued for Croston because of the gap in its flood defenses, the Environment Agency said.
A Chinook helicopter carrying sandbags was flown into the area to help reinforce the damaged defenses. Footage showed sandbags being dropped into a gap along a river bank where high levels of water had washed away part of the bank.
Emergency services personnel also tried to mend defenses alongside a road where high levels of water threatened to flood the road.
Large swathes of the area appeared to be submerged under water.
Up to a month’s worth of rain has fallen across northern England in recent weeks and flood waters have hit cities and towns including Manchester, Rochdale and Leeds.
There are nine severe flood warnings in place in northern England, meaning there is a danger to life, while there are lesser warnings in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales due to the forecasts of further rain.
While flood defenses have been bolstered in recent years, it has not been enough to prevent some residents of northern England having their homes flooded time and again this month.
Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday (December 28) defended the government’s record on flood defenses during a visit to York city, saying it had committed to spend 2.3 billion pounds ($3.4 billion) over the next six years, and he would consider doing more. (Reuters)
