Homes evacuated in Mid Wales village after burst water causes flooding - with pictures

Residents in Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant said people's homes and belongings had been "ruined" by the flooding, caused when one of three main pipes taking water from Lake Vyrnwy to Oswestry burst.

Around 40 properties were affected in total, with the fire service called at about 1.30pm on Friday to help and pump flood water out.

Flood water struck a number of businesses and homes, caused extensive damage to the village hall, and was as deep as six feet in some cellars.

United Utilities, which is responsible for the pipe, sent clean–up teams of more than 40 workers to the village to assist residents on Friday and Saturday as the clean-up operation began.

As a result of the damage 12 families were put up in hotels or bed and breakfasts because they were unable to stay in their own homes.

Sean Robinson of United Utilities said that the pipe which burst was one of the three "trunk mains" which take water from Lake Vyrnwy to Owestry.

He said that specialist engineering teams have been on-site looking to find out what caused the pipe to burst.

Huw Williams, community councillor, said people's properties had been ruined by the flood.

He said the focus was now on the clean–up, and on making sure the pipes are safe and there is no repeat.

He said: "It was about 3.30pm when I first saw it and basically you had a river a foot deep, if not more, running through the village. Obviously the consequences are that houses below the road level were damaged. It is quite shocking when to can't get into you own village because of the flooding."

The flooding has caused significant damage to the roads and footpaths with tarmac lifted by the water.

Councillor Williams added: "There is water damage within houses. You have got cellars flooded, some up to six feet with water.

"The public house, their cellar was flooded with water, obviously the electric has been turned off in houses. We had a new public hall which opened a few years ago but the water has come down the hillside behind and it ruined the snooker room then ran into the main hall and the water has got under the main floor which is being taken up now."

Councillor Williams praised the response of United Utilities but said that the cause of the burst needs to be identified.

He said: "To be fair to United Utilities their response has been very, very good. There was a team of 40 people in the town by 8.30am this morning making notes of the damage and assisting home owners with the damage.

"Also the whole community has come together to help people. Last night they were brushing water out of houses, lending a hand with anything they could.

"My concern and the concern of people in the village is this that although United Utilities have come out and been very helpful, those pipelines are still running behind the village. We want to know what has happened and to make sure it does not happen again."

Local resident Anna Roberts said that although she had been lucky, other people were not so fortunate.

She said: "My dad was working and heard that there was a bit of water on the road. Turns out that one of the major pipes that takes water to Liverpool erupted from the ground. People's homes and belongings have been ruined. We were fortunate to miss the flood by half an inch."

Sean Robinson of United Utilities said: "Between 30 and 40 properties were affected. Some had basements that are completely flooded and others have some flooding outside.

"Twelve families spent the night in hotels or bed and breakfast accommodation.

"We are providing each property with immediate compensation of £250 as a goodwill gesture and we are sending in teams of loss adjusters today to assess the damage and explain the process for claiming for any losses and getting homes and businesses back to normal as quickly as possible."