Deep trouble

KITCHEN misery . . . Lisa Watson in her flooded home in Chew Valley Road

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FLOODING swept across Oldham last night as torrential rain and gales battered the borough.

Streets became rivers and schools, businesses, and homes were under feet of water as the emergency services were inundated.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service dealt with 230 calls in five hours.

Oldham Council said no residents needed evacuating.

St Mary's CE primary school, Greenfield, will be closed today due to flood damage and Rushcroft Primary School in Shaw sent out a text message to parents yesterday asking them to come and help stop the school flooding as the area was engulfed with water.

Train services were cancelled and tram lines on parts of the network were suspended. The train line through Saddleworth into Manchester was closed at Stalybridge for several hours before being reopened.

Well-I-Hole bridge in Greenfield was in danger of collapse and Lifestyle Fitness Centre in Greenfield was among businesses flooded.

Manchester Road in Greenfield, Beal Lane in Shaw where a culvert collapsed causing a road closure, Tandle Hill Road in Royton, Coverhill Road in Grotton and Micklehurst Road in Mossley, were all badly hit and there were traffic problems near Elk Mill and a collision on the A627 Broadway added to the chaos. The M62 was closed westbound due to flooding between J22 A672 (Saddleworth) and J21 A640 (Shaw) and a diversion in operation.

Stalybridge, including the Coppley and Millbrook areas, was particularly badly affected as the River Tame burst its banks. In those areas, the fire service urged people to remain in their homes due to 'neck-deep' water as people were rescued from first and second floor windows.

At the height of the chaos, Oldham Council tweeted: "Extreme rainfall and winds are causing flooding in several parts of the borough. We are receiving many reports of incidents. Areas particularly affected are Royton, Shaw and Crompton and Saddleworth. All resources have been deployed to assist.

"We are also working with the Environment Agency and United Utilities and other partners to deal with the response.

Residents are advised not to to travel unless absolutely necessary at this time. We'll keep you updated as we get more info. Please check on any vulnerable neighbours you may have to check they are safe and well."

Engineers from Electricity North West to restore power to around 12,000 properties across the region throughout the evening

Around 2,500 properties remain without power as fallen trees have hit lines and flooding has made access difficult for repair teams.

Work to clear a fallen tree from the overhead power cables on the East Didsbury Metrolink line continued through the night with services still suspended between East Didsbury and Chorlton this morning. There were also no trams from Ashton to Manchester.

Double trams were running every 12 minutes between Shaw and Crompton and Sale Water Park, on the Airport line, to help.

For more information on Metrolink services visit www.metrolink.co.uk or call Metrolink Customer Services on 0161 205 2000.