ONE YEAR ON: Chesterfield homes hit by flooding

Scores of properties in the Somersall area of the town were affected after heavy and persistent rain from so-called Storm Katie fell in the early hours of Easter Monday.

Homeowners on Yew Tree Drive, Miriam Avenue and Norton Avenue awoke to find water gushing down their streets and into their properties.

Stephen Hughes, of Norton Avenue, was one of the worst affected and allowed the Derbyshire Times to film inside parts of his house. Click ‘play’ on the above video to see some of the damage caused.

Mr Hughes said: “I woke up at about 5.30am to the sound of running water.

“I went to the kitchen and could hear the bins bouncing into each other outside so I knew it was bad.

“The water then came into the house.

“I’d say it’s caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and there’s a lot of clearing up to be done.

“It’s not good. It’s not good at all.”

Mr Hughes’ insurance company has arranged for him and his wife to stay at Premier Inn while repairs and clean-up work takes place.

He said a nearby blocked culvert is partly to blame for the severe flooding and called on Derbyshire County Council to tackle the long-running problem, which is due to be discussed at a public meeting later in the week.

The council maintains it is not its reponsibility to unblock the culvert.

Gillian Haslam, of Yew Tree Drive, said she woke up at 6am to see water gushing down the road.

“It was scary,” she added. “Thankfully the water didn’t get into the house – I feel very sorry for those who weren’t so lucky.

“There’s been great community spirit in the area after what’s happened.

“A lot of people have been knocking on doors to help their neighbours.”