A number of rescue operations – including residents being evacuated on rafts – have been carried out due to severe flooding in Cheshire on New Year’s Day. Police and firefighters are also currently dealing with damage to the Bridgewater Canal, which has overflowed in the Little Bollington area.
The M56 westbound near Manchester Airport has been closed since the early hours due to a flooded carriageway while the submerged A555 airport relief road is also shut. Parts of Cheshire and Greater Manchester were severely battered by heavy downpours overnight, resulting in a number of flood warnings being in place.
Regarding the Bridgewater Canal, Cheshire Constabulary said: “We’re continuing to deal with damage to the Bridgewater Canal in the Little Bollington area. We’re asking for people to avoid the area.
“There are currently no reported injuries and we’re working with Greater Manchester Police to evacuate nearby properties. The M56 westbound between J6 and J7 is also currently closed.”
The damaged Bridgewater Canal
(Image: Richard Nurse)
Here’s a round-up of flooding incidents across the county
- Firefighters used a raft to rescue 13 people from properties affected by flood water on Fulshaw Park South in Wilmslow. Two fire engines, from Northwich and Chester, attended at 8.38am.
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Fire crews used portable pumps to remove flood water from a property in Mobberley, which was posing a risk to the safety of residents. One engine from Nantwich was called to the address on Newton Hall Lane shortly after 9.30am.
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At 8.13am, one fire engine and a technical rescue unit from Lymm were called to Broad Lane, Warrington, to deploy a raft to carry residents to safety from a house which was affected by flooding.
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Firefighters rescued one person from a car which was stranded due to flood water on Welsh Row, Macclesfield, at around 7.30am.
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One fire engine from Greater Manchester and a rescue boat from Warrington were sent to rescue a person trapped in a car on Collins Green Lane, Warrington, at 7.21am.
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Firefighters used pumps to remove flood water from several properties on Pasture Lane, Warrington, which were affected by flooding.
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One fire engine from Wilmslow was sent to divert flood water away from a property on Merrymans Lane in Great Warford at about 6am.
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Shortly after 4.30am, firefighters used a raft to rescue the three occupants of a car stuck in flood water on Booths Lane in Lymm.
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Firefighters used a portable pump and booms to remove flood water from a property in Hall Lane, Mobberley, which was affecting the electrics.
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Not long after midnight, fire crews used a portable pump to divert floodwater from an agricultural premises and farmland on Bucklow Hill Lane in Mere.
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Firefighters were called to reports of a car stuck in flood water on Cliff Lane, Warrington, just before midnight yesterday. Crews used a raft to access the vehicle, release the three occupants and bring them to safety.
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