'I'm still out of my home one year after storm'

Anna Mimms outside her home, one year after Storm Babet forced her out

"It was miserable. We knew as soon as it was happening that it was going to impact our lives in a very negative way."

Like many, Anna Mimms suddenly found her life turned upside down when Storm Babet brought heavy rain and flooding in October last year.

Her end of terrace house, in the Nottinghamshire village of Woodborough, was one of 51 properties in the area affected, and Anna has been living in a rented home ever since.

But after delays and renovations to her flood-damaged house, Anna, her husband Nick, her two adult sons and their dog are finally set to go home next month.

Floods affected 51 homes in the village of Woodborough in October 2023

In the East Midlands, Storm Babet resulted in the highest recorded river levels at 37 locations, according to the Environment Agency.

In addition, it brought the wettest three-day period that Nottinghamshire had ever experienced on record.

The ground floor of Anna's house - which she dubs an "old knitter's cottage" - was hit by flood water damage, including to her porch, entrance hall, dining room, lounge and kitchen.

But more than 12 months on, Anna is trying to focus on the positives.

Despite living away in a rented property in the village, which has been paid for by her insurance company, she knows her time in limbo is coming to an end.

She was happy with the response from her insurance firm, but what has been behind the delay to getting her back in her home?

"I think it is a matter of logistics to be perfectly honest," she says.

"When these things happen across the country, we are not the only people being flooded. We end up with the trades and organisations that respond to this being overwhelmed by the amount of call-outs they have."

Work to repair Anna's home continues

Some of the tradespeople who have been working on her home have been deployed from Manchester and other places further afield, Anna says.

Her floors are being re-laid, the walls downstairs are being fixed and re-plastered, and the downstairs - including the kitchen - is being redecorated and painted.

On occasion, there have been periods when no work has been taking place, but Anna says she is looking forward to moving back in.

"I am so thrilled, we have been well looked after, but it has been extremely stressful," Anna adds.

A new kitchen has been fitted as part of the renovations

Amanda Mellor, from the Woodborough Flood Action Group, says residents were "exhausted and full of mud by the end" of the storm.

She says the local authority has been working on some flood prevention measures, including building up sections of land to hold back flood water and other areas to allow water to drain away.

"We are really lucky that Nottinghamshire County Council have been trying to help better protect the village," she says.

"We have got a natural flood management scheme that is taking place in the west catchment, and that should protect and reduce peak flows by 40%, in a one in 30-year storm."

Amanda Mellor from the Woodborough Flood Action Group

Nottinghamshire County Council said it was leading the natural flood management project to "deculvert and restore sections of the river to reduce peak flows downstream" and better protect 31 properties.

A council spokesperson added: "Our natural flood management project in Woodborough is a prime example of the positive, hands-on work our council is committed to."

In a statement, the Environment Agency said: "We know the devastating impact flooding can have and our priority is to protect communities from this.

"[The agency] also undertakes regular maintenance on the main river section of the Woodborough Brook, routinely cleaning and clearing several grids and undertaking a programme of culvert inspections to ensure they are clear.

"We have been attending regular meetings with the Woodborough Flood Action Group to advise them and answer their questions."

Flood water during Storm Babet in Woodborough