Rivers break banks after torrential rain
L ARGE parts of Huddersfield and surrounding areas in Kirklees were left deluged after more than 12 hours of torrential rain.
The torrent across the Pennines on Friday night and throughout Saturday left river levels surging and areas near steep inclines hit by surface water floods.
The flood sirens were sounded in Hebden Bridge and Todmorden and residents urged to take action in the lower Calder Valley at Elland and Brighouse.
Cars were left stranded as rivers broke their banks.
At 5.30pm on Saturday the Environment Agency had 50 flood warnings active.
They included most settlements along the River Calder, including Mirfield, Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury.
A further 67 flood alerts – meaning flooding is possible – were in force, in the worst flooding since the Boxing Day floods of 2015.
Mirfield was one of the worst hit as low-lying levels near the river began to flood.
The notorious underpass to Calder View in Lower Hopton became flooded at about noon on Saturday.
One motorist drove into the five-feet deep puddle, that has claimed many victims before, and had to be towed out by Mirfield Rescue Services.
About a mile away, flood prone Steanard Lane was left under water with the Ship Inn pub bracing itself for another damaging event.
Clr Vivien Lees-Hamilton told the Examiner she was furious that Kirklees Council had not closed the road off.
The Mirfield Tory said she had been forced to ring 999 to try and get action after being unable to get through to Kirklees staff or the police on the non emergency line, 101.
The road began to flood at 2.30pm and by 4.30pm was deep in water from the adjacent river.
Clr Lees Hamiton said: “I’m so angry, Kirklees knew this weather was going to happen.
“They knew the ground upstream was saturated and they haven’t got enough men on the ground.
“The road should have been closed hours ago and now it’s critical they haven’t got anybody on standby to ensure public safety.”
Flood water also closed part of Huddersfield ring road for most of Saturday afternoon and fire crews battled through the night to prevent Sowerby Bridge being overcome by flood water.
Police were also forced to block off the Unna Way underpass after water levels became too deep to drive through.
Meanwhile, in Shepley, fast flowing surface water knocked down a wall on Lydgate Road, just of the A629.
Localised flooding was also reported in Lockwood, Milnsbridge and Longwood, while a small landslide was reported at Blackley near Ainley Top.
Earlier in the day, flooding in the upper Calder Valley caused trains to be cancelled.