Fierce Floods in UK hit transport and schools
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Fierce Floods in UK hit transport and schools*
Heavy downpours in the Sheffield area have blocked roads and caused at
least two school closures.
Flash floods in the north of England have left schools closed, roads
blocked and people needing to be rescued.
Eleven factory workers were rescued in Dronfield, north Derbyshire, when
floodwaters cut their building off.
Sheffield's transport system has been disrupted and parts of the
supertram service were suspended.
South Yorkshire Fire Service received more than a dozen calls within
half an hour late in the afternoon from people concerned about the flooding.
There was also flash flooding in parts of north and mid Wales.
The situation is difficult but we are coping. It is certainly not as bad
as last time
South Yorkshire Fire Service spokeswoman
The railway line between Chesterfield and Sheffield was closed with
services diverted, adding 15 minutes to home-time journeys.
There were problems caused by the heavy rain around Sheffield's Olive
Grove bus depot which caused difficulties with services.
The central library was closed and a performance of Godspell at the city
hall cancelled.
Sheffield City College - the old Castle College campus - will be closed
on Thursday but students who have exams have been told they should still
attend.
Heritage Park school and Norfolk Park special school will also be closed
on Thursday because of the flooding.
'Enormous' call numbers
A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Fire Service said the situation was
not as serious as the flooding which hit Sheffield two years ago.
"We are advising people to isolate their electrics and move to upstairs
rooms. The situation is easing and we are starting to go to streets and
start pumping out.
"We have had an enormous amount of calls. The situation is difficult but
we are coping. It is certainly not as bad as last time."
Map of Derbyshire and South Yorkshire
Two people died in Sheffield in 2007 when floodwaters hit parts of the
city. Damage then was estimated at £1bn.
In North Derbyshire, areas affected included Crich, Ashover and
Chesterfield and the county's fire service said they were inundated with
calls.
The 11 factory workers trapped by floods at Dronfield were rescued
unhurt by firefighters.
The flash flooding in parts of north and mid Wales has caused damage to
property and disrupted traffic.
Workers were temporarily stuck in office blocks in Newtown, Powys, as
water levels rose rapidly after a cloudburst.