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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Village flood defence put to test | Village flood defence put to test |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A Cornish village was saved from a repeat of serious flood damage when a £800,000 defence system was put to the test in torrential rain. | A Cornish village was saved from a repeat of serious flood damage when a £800,000 defence system was put to the test in torrential rain. |
| Some homes and businesses were damaged as water levels rose to 2ft in parts of Boscastle on Thursday. | Some homes and businesses were damaged as water levels rose to 2ft in parts of Boscastle on Thursday. |
| Cornwall County Council admitted it was worsened by blocked drains which could not cope with the downpour. | Cornwall County Council admitted it was worsened by blocked drains which could not cope with the downpour. |
| But a culvert and a widened river bed, developed after the floods three years ago, helped stop more severe damage. | But a culvert and a widened river bed, developed after the floods three years ago, helped stop more severe damage. |
| In 2004 an estimated 440 million gallons of flood water poured through the historic village, devastating many buildings and washing vehicles into the harbour and beyond. | In 2004 an estimated 440 million gallons of flood water poured through the historic village, devastating many buildings and washing vehicles into the harbour and beyond. |
| The Environment Agency created the flood defence scheme in response. | The Environment Agency created the flood defence scheme in response. |
| Cars abandoned | Cars abandoned |
| During Thursday's rains, the village river held but water spilled onto the road and then ran into homes and businesses. | During Thursday's rains, the village river held but water spilled onto the road and then ran into homes and businesses. |
| Cornwall Fire Brigade, which had crews pumping out water and helping residents, said the worst affected area was by the harbour. | Cornwall Fire Brigade, which had crews pumping out water and helping residents, said the worst affected area was by the harbour. |
| Two homes and three shops were flooded and cars abandoned. | Two homes and three shops were flooded and cars abandoned. |
| Search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RMB Chivenor were put on standby, but no injuries were reported. | Search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RMB Chivenor were put on standby, but no injuries were reported. |
| class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6229636.stm">Flood: Your Pictures | |
| Debbie Moore, of the Napoleon Inn in Boscastle, said: "Everyone saw it and it was heart stopping, we thought, here we go again. But we are over the worst of it." | Debbie Moore, of the Napoleon Inn in Boscastle, said: "Everyone saw it and it was heart stopping, we thought, here we go again. But we are over the worst of it." |
| Mark Rice, a spokesman for the Environment Agency South West region, said: "The flood defence schemes put in place since 2004 have worked, but we've had so much rainfall that it's surface water flooding." | Mark Rice, a spokesman for the Environment Agency South West region, said: "The flood defence schemes put in place since 2004 have worked, but we've had so much rainfall that it's surface water flooding." |
| The fact that all this water has descended again and the rivers have not burst their banks shows the work was definitely necessary Dan Rogerson, MP | |
| Boscastle Parish Councillor George Findlay said the worst appeared to be over and people were confident about the flood defence work. | Boscastle Parish Councillor George Findlay said the worst appeared to be over and people were confident about the flood defence work. |
| Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Lib Dem MP, said: "The fact that all this water has descended again and the rivers have not burst their banks shows the work was definitely necessary and has had an effect." | Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Lib Dem MP, said: "The fact that all this water has descended again and the rivers have not burst their banks shows the work was definitely necessary and has had an effect." |
| Paul Allen, highways divisional surveyor for Cornwall County Council, said: "Drainage is an issue as well. The drains obviously couldn't cope with the intensity of the rainfall." | Paul Allen, highways divisional surveyor for Cornwall County Council, said: "Drainage is an issue as well. The drains obviously couldn't cope with the intensity of the rainfall." |
| He said the drains were regularly cleaned as the village was identified as a high risk area, but could not say when they had last been done. | He said the drains were regularly cleaned as the village was identified as a high risk area, but could not say when they had last been done. |
| In 2004, military helicopters airlifted around 100 people to safety, 58 properties were flooded and four businesses were demolished. | In 2004, military helicopters airlifted around 100 people to safety, 58 properties were flooded and four businesses were demolished. |
| Last year, North Cornwall District Council gave the go-ahead for a £4.5m flood defence project for the village which includes moving a bridge. | Last year, North Cornwall District Council gave the go-ahead for a £4.5m flood defence project for the village which includes moving a bridge. |