Six months ago they were being rescued by boat as flood waters gushed into their homes in the early hours. Now, after an epic stay in a hotel, the residents of Mill Close, Worfield, have finally been able to return home.
Eric and Kathleen Ball, aged 67 and 55, were first through the front door and are already hanging a There’s No Place Like Home sign in their refurbished living room. “As soon as my bed landed I was back,” said Eric. “Living in a hotel was great for the first two weeks but the novelty soon wore off.
“Being back at home is so relaxing, it’s the perfect Christmas present.”
Eight residents were forced out of their homes when the River Worfe burst its banks in the early hours of June 26. Firefighters pulled the pensioners to safety through their bedroom windows and into waiting boats, before taking them to the nearby Dog Inn for refuge. The next six months were spent at Lea Manor Hotel, near Albrighton, while Bridgnorth District Council refurbished the devastated bungalows.
Thelma Easton, aged 79, unpacked her bags yesterday and said she was looking forward to being reunited with her beloved cat Rosie, who has spent the past half a year in kennels.
“It was very traumatic,” said Thelma. “A real ordeal. Everything was ruined, the carpets, the wallpaper, the kitchen. It was devastating.
“But now I’m so happy to be back in my own bed and spending Christmas with Rosie.”
The council has completely restored the bungalows of Mill Close and the residents are now eagerly awaiting flood barriers, which are also going to be installed at Shifnal and Ditton Priors as part of a £51,700 project.
Mr Ball said: “Until we have the barriers in place I’ll be on tenterhooks, I want that piece of mind. But I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be home.”
He added the council was spending £70 per person per week to keep them at the hotel.
Joyce Cassidy, aged 74, was unsure about returning home after the trauma of June 26.
“At first I said I’d never go back,” she said. “I still don’t feel 100 per cent but it’s my home and it’s where I belong. It will take a while to settle back in, it’s like a completely new house, but I’m glad to be back.
“Without the staff at Lea Manor I don’t know where we would have been. They kept us all together and we made a lot of friends.”
Following the floods the entire community came to the aid of the pensioners.
Eric said: “People have been wonderful. I still can’t quite believe what happened. The water was up to the firemen’s chests when they were rescuing us and it caused thousands of pounds of damage. It has been quite a journey and to be honest I’m glad it’s over – there really is no place like home.”
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