Call for action after 'soul-destroying' flooding

Dawn Royds house in Platt Bridge was badly damaged in the New Year's Day floods

A woman whose home was submerged during the New Year's Day flooding has called for urgent action to create new defences after the "soul-destroying" devastation of her home.

Dawn Royds had to wade out of her home in Platt Bridge, Wigan, after the deluge that caused widespread damage in a number of towns across Greater Manchester.

Local MP Josh Simons said residents in the area were "right to be angry" about the lack of progress on a flood protection scheme.

Floods minister Emma Hardy visited residents and businesses in the town weeks after the floods in January and said £2.4bn had been earmarked by the government for new defences across the country.

But residents said they are yet to see any concrete action.

Dawn Royds home was one of many submerged in the floods on New Year's Day

About 100 homes in Wigan were flooded on New Year's Day, including Mrs Royds home on Templeton Road.

The area also suffered a similar major flood in 2015, and Mrs Royds said she felt "let down" after being told by local authorities that it wouldn't happen again".

She said: "After the last flood, and what we went through, I just feel it [flood defences] should have been done.

"I just want to sell up and get a bungalow somewhere, but who is going to buy this now."

The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham visited those affected alongside the local MP to push for more support for the area.

'Overlooked again'

He said: "This is a public safety issue. Does Platt Bridge get the same attention as more affluent areas?

"That's what people feel, and I think they're right to ask that question, I am asking that question."

Simons said he shared his constituents' anger and said he would "not let the area be overlooked again".

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said protecting people and communities against the impact of flooding was their "top priority".

The spokesman said the agency was working with other local authorities towards "developing a new plan to reduce flood risk in the area".