Gym owner 'distraught' as floods destroy business

Rick Vere-Hoose says he was broken-hearted to find his gym under water

A man who was preparing to open his new gym business in an apartment block hit by flooding has said he is "distraught" after £100,000 worth of equipment and renovation work was destroyed.

A major incident was declared on New Year's Day as large parts of the north-west of England were deluged by torrential rain, and some people were trapped in their homes.

About 400 residents were evacuated from Meadow Mill in Stockport.

Rick Vere-Hoose, who was set to open the gym in the building on the 13 January, said he was "heartbroken" after losing apparatus and flooring and was unsure when he would be able to open.

Only the tops of cars could be seen in the car park at Meadow Mill in Stockport

The sustained torrential rain caused severe flooding across parts of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire.

Mr Vere-Hoose was unaware of the damage at his business until a friend contacted him after seeing the mill in flooding photos online.

He then rushed to the building to find it "caked in mud" and "ruined".

The opening of the gym had already been pushed back due to "delays", he said.

Mr Vere-Hoose said he said spent "well over 100k" on gym equipment, flooring and renovations in preparation for welcoming customers.

Mr Vere-Hoose says he has to postpone his gym opening indefinitely

Mr Vere-Hoose is hopeful to get the gym cleared of water damage in the coming days.

He added: "I just feel broken-hearted, just distraught, it has been a dream for me to open this gym for a good couple of years."

"Just to see it like this and all the work that had gone into it and how far this is going to push us back, I don't know."

Mr Vere-Hoose says he arrived to find the building completely waterlogged

More than a thousand people across the North West have had to evacuate their homes because of the severe weather.

The Environmental Agency urged people to stay away from swollen rivers and not drive through water.