Residents 'devastated' after flood water pours into homes in Hitchin

Firefighters have been helping residents after flood water up to knee-deep poured into their homes.

45 properties have been affected in the Woolgrove Road and Green Lane area or Hitchin, Hertfordshire, after the River Purwell burst its banks and more heavy rain last night.

Over 49mm - nearly two inches - of rain fell in Hitchin in the last 24 hours- nearly as much as the whole September average of 55.4mm

Edi Passmore had only recently renovated her home in Green Lane before inches of water seeped in.

"I’m happy we are safe but obviously it’s just heartbreaking because we’ve just renovated the house" she said.

"We’ve just had the bathroom done and the floorboards done and now like the whole street peoples livelihoods and homes are submerged."

"You can’t really put it into words, that’s where you live that’s where you come home after you’ve had a hard days work.

"It will just be a waiting game to try and dry the house out and see what the damage is out."

Peter Riley, 43, had only moved into the area a month ago.

"It's all a bit of a shock for us, we keep being getting that told nothing like this has happened for 40 years so we're feeling quite unlucky" he said.

Hertfordshire County Council said a respite centre had been set up nearby.

Fire crews are continuing to help those who want to leave and are pumping out water from the flooded street back into the river.

More than 35 people were also rescued from a caravan park in Yarwell, Northamptonshire due to rising flood waters.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said they had been called to eight weather related incidents since 8am on Thursday.

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