Major incident stood down after widespread flooding sees 1,000 evacuated and a canal to collapse

ITV Granada Reports journalist Andrew Fletcher takes a look at the flooding damage across the region

The clean up operation has begun after severe flooding saw nearly 1,000 people evacuated, train lines and roads closed, and a canal collapse following heavy rain.

A major incident was declared as mountain rescue teams were deployed to help Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) deal with damaged properties and stranded vehicles across the region.

Around 450 people were evacuated on New Years Day evening from a hotel in Didsbury, south Manchester, while 400 homes were put at a lower risk, police said.

About 400 occupants of a block of flats in Meadow Mill, Stockport, were evacuated due to a loss of power and water supply.

The Bridgewater Canal in Dunham Massey also breached its banks for the first time in more than half a century, causing it to collapse entirely.

One local described the scene as if "a bomb had gone off" after the embankment gave way, exposing the steel supports and causing an almost waterfall-like scene.

The North West and Wales saw heavy rain on Wednesday 1 January, which came after the Met Office said some parts of the North West saw almost a month’s worth of rain within 48 hours.

GMP, who declared the incident which has since been stood down, said the worst affected areas were Didsbury, Stockport, Trafford and Wigan.

Resident living in Meadow Mill in Stockport, on the banks of the River Tame, were left "trapped" with many needing to be rescued from their homes by emergency services after their building was surrounded by flood water.

Fire crews and paramedics attended the building, where the lower floors and car park were flooded leaving it cut off.

In Didsbury a person had to be rescued and a car was submerged after sluice gates were opened at Fletcher Moss Park as the River Mersey recorded its highest ever level.

ITV News North of England reporter Kelly Foran reports on the clean-up taking place across Greater Manchester

Elsewhere in Didsbury, about 50 properties were evacuated through the course of the afternoon and evening of New Year’s Day.

While widespread flooding of properties and roadways in Platt Bridge, Wigan also led to evacuations.

At Lancaster Works in Harpurhey, about 100 people who had been attending a New Year’s Eve event became stranded due to rising floodwaters. They were later walked to safety once the water had subsided, GMFRS said.

Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel said: “The flooding on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day caused considerable damage and disruption across Greater Manchester. We have evacuated nearly 1,000 people, half of them on boats, and many from flooded homes.

“Over the past 36 hours, fire crews have worked tirelessly to keep people safe alongside Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service, Mountain Rescue, local councils and a range of partners. I’d like to thank everyone involved in the response for their hard work and dedication.”

Parts of the region saw more than 80mm (three inches) of rain fall in the last 24 hours.

Rivers including the River Tame in Tameside and the Mersey in Stockport rose to record highs in places, while the city centre canals have overflowed.

Those living near the Micker Brook, a tributary of the River Mersey, said roads in and around Cheadle were submerged with water getting into their homes and their electrics being cut.In Broadbottom, Tameside, locals said a wall collapsed onto cars before water came gushing into houses, GMFRS said they were experiencing a 'high number' of flood related calls.

Tom Coulthard, a geography professor at the University of Hull from Didsbury, said they have had 70 to 80mm in the Greater Manchester region after measuring it on a rain gauge at his home.

“It started raining heavily at about 5 or 6pm on Tuesday evening, and then it just rained hard all night,” Prof Coulthard he said.

“All the local rivers and water courses have sort of filled up and flooded around the area.

“All around this part of south Manchester, Cheadle, bits of Cheshire, there’s been local flooding. Roads closed. The motorway was closed, the M60, the M56 to Manchester Airport, that was all closed off.

“The last record level was set in Didsbury in February 2022, these record levels in the rivers around here are tumbling every year or every couple of years.

“That’s really probably a sign of just how our weather is changing, how climate is shifting this.

“This is in line with all sorts of the predictions that people in my profession have been talking about for 20 years or more, the impacts of climate change will be sort of warmer, wetter winters.”

GMP Chief Superintendent Colette Rose said: “We are continuing to monitor the whole of Greater Manchester as we look to co-ordinate the emergency response involving a variety of services.

“Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have been key to this to ensure we can keep those people and communities safe after the severe weather we have had.

“Thankfully, due to the efforts of all involved so far, no-one has been seriously injured or come to harm and we would like to thank members of the public for their continued co-operation, especially around the road closures in place and looking out for each other.

“Anyone still affected should continue to check the relevant detail being shared by their local council, the fire service and Transport for Greater Manchester to ensure they can get the support available that may be needed.”

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "We have been working closely with the police, fire service and Environment Agency through the night to monitor water levels across the city - and provide support and guidance to our residents who might be affected.

"Some residents have been asked to evacuate where the Environment Agency has issued flood warnings, and these residents have been contacted directly and supported.

"Thankfully we are seeing signs that water levels are beginning to fall, and it is unlikely that further evacuations will be necessary. However, water levels will continue to be monitored over the coming hours.

"We would ask anyone who is travelling today to take extra care and check the TfGM website for the latest updates and advice. And you can find information about what to do if your area is at risk of flooding on the Council's website.

"I would like to thank our emergency services colleagues - alongside Council staff - for their efforts overnight and today in keeping Manchester residents safe."

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said it had also been called to a number of incidents - including a streets where houses and cars have been submerged in "several feet" of floodwater after the Sankey Canal in St Helens burst its banks.

Pictures show flood-hit homes at the junction of Blackbrook Road and West End Road in Haydock, where a resident said the nearby canal had "burst its banks".

At 10.30am today, a Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "(We are) in attendance at an incident on Blackbrook Street, Haydock. Crews were alerted at 7.05am and on scene shortly after. Two fire engines and the search and rescue team attended.

"Crews arrived to find flooding in the street. West End Road has been closed and firefighters on scene checked in with local residents. Nobody had been evacuated. Crews are preparing to leave the scene now."

Flooding also affected transport across the region, with TransPennine Express urging customers on its services, saying flooding was causing “significant issues” in Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

The line was closed between Manchester Piccadilly and Warrington Central with disruption expected to continue, according to National Rail.

Trains did not operate between Manchester Airport and the city’s stations on Wednesday, as well as routes between Manchester to Liverpool Lime Street and from both Liverpool and Manchester to Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

Flooding is also blocking the line between Todmorden and Rochdale with disruption expected until noon with further predicted flooding affecting services calling at Rotherham Central.

National Highways said the westbound M56 between Junction 6 for Manchester Airport and Junction 7 for Bowdon was expected to be closed “for some time” due to flooding across all three lanes.