Storm Babet: Computer repair store offers space to barber who saw his shop go to pieces in front of his eyes as floods hit Chesterfield

Chatsworth Road in Chesterfield was underwater after Storm Babet hit the area on Friday. Shops along the street have been badly damaged, including Brampton Barbers – with owner Carl Hague, watching as everything sank under water in just minutes.

Carl, 41, a dad of three said: “First the power went off, within 10 minutes the water was running through the door. Customers, bless their hearts, were trying to brush the water out as fast as it was coming in. But in the end, we just had to stand there and watch as everything went to pieces right in front of our eyes. The water was getting deeper and deeper, it was up to my waist. It was terrible.

"It was the first time I was affected by the floods. I was very shocked. Everything has been damaged, the chair, all the equipment, flooring, plasterwork and electrics. I will need to battle through the repairs on my own as you can’t get flood insurance for any businesses in this area because it flooded in 2007.”

After the shop was damaged, Carl was approached by a long-term customer Bryn Wadsworth-Allan, who offered Carl a small space at his shop, aGeek on West Bars.

Carl, who has run his barber shop for 10 years, said: "When aGeek approached me after the flood and offered me a space I was very very grateful. I will be offering walk-in appointments at their shop from next Wednesday until I can get my barber’s shop up and running.”

Carl will also be offering home visits which can be booked via Facebook and Instagram.

Bryn Wadsworth-Allan, owner of aGeek, said: “After seeing the devastation on Chatsworth Road, I approached Carl and offered him a space in our shop. We condensed the retail products down on the wall so that he can fit a mirror, some shelves, his chair and a waiting area. If you’re a barber, your income comes from cutting people’s hair. If you have nowhere to do it, you can’t make a living. Christmas is coming up, he has kids, this was just the right thing to do.”