Regulars rally to clear up pub deluged by flood

Cimi Kazazi rescued a woman from a stranded car as his restaurant was flooded

A pub owner has thanked villagers who rallied round to help clean up his business after it was deluged with flood water.

Water rose up to 2.5ft (76cm) inside The Italian Greyhound, in Great Glen, Leicestershire, on Monday, which destroyed fittings, furnishings and equipment, ruined stock and left a thick layer of mud behind when the flooding receded.

Owner Cimi Kazazi, who made national headlines after he waded out into flood water to rescue a woman stranded in a car, said volunteers had unexpectedly turned up to help staff clear up.

Mr Kazazi, 50, said as a result of the help he had received, he now hoped the business might be able to reopen later in January.

"The damage is beyond words and the business is paralysed," Mr Kazazi said.

"The damage is everywhere. The water was very high and stayed there for two days.

"It's the electrics, the appliances and the floor and the cellar and the hotel rooms. Everything is not usable.

"It's very hard to estimate what the cost will be, but it will be very, very big."

He added: "I am broken and devastated to see the business like this, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"I have had incredible support and love from the community and beyond.

"It means the world - the word thank you is not enough."

Mr Kazazi said it was too soon to estimate the cost of the damage caused by the flooding

Nicky Swires, who was one of the volunteers, spent five hours helping clean the restaurant on Wednesday.

She said: "I've been coming to this pub for more than 30 years.

"When I saw the floods I just wanted to go down and help and when I arrived, there were so many people helping.

"It was lovely to see people trying to put it all back together.

"There were new faces and old faces. There was a real camaraderie."

Much of the pub is still covered in filth from the flooding