Fire brigade prepare to rescue flooded residents as Stockport hit by deluge

Ell Henderson, a 28-year-old resident of Meadow Mill in Stockport, who was waiting to be evacuated this afternoon (Wed), said: "We'd been out for New Year's Eve but when we got back last night, it wasn't anything like it is now.

"It must've started around 3:30am.

"Then at around 7:30am, the power went out, and we walked into our front room to find out what was going on.

"We looked out the window, and it was like a swimming pool outside - the water was about a foot deep.

"We ran into someone else in the hall, who said they'd been advised to stay inside and wait for further updates.

"Four hours later, we went to the main reception and saw emergency services blowing up rafts.

"We heard they were preparing to make evacuations - but we don't know when that's going to be.

"To be honest, we're going a bit stir crazy and claustrophobic trapped inside.

"Luckily, I have family to go to after being evacuated - not everyone in this block will have that luxury."