Workers race to drain water from Toddbrook Reservoir
Nearby Whaley Bridge evacuated yesterday when heavy rain damaged dam wall
Around 1,500 people are thought to have left the town
Fire crews pumping water out while Chinook helicopter helps shore up wall
Reservoir level reduced by more than half a metre so far
PM Boris Johnson arrives to meet those affected
Residents to be allowed home to collect belongings
Roads around town remain closed and trains disrupted
A woman who has lived in Whaley Bridge for 23 years told the BBC how frightened she feels about the threat of flooding.
Tracey Croasdale said she had her rabbits and dog ready in case she was told to evacuate.
"We're sitting watching the news, it's very scary," she said.
"Never in a million years did we think it would burst its banks."
Judith Moritz
BBC North of England Correspondent
This is the scene at Chapel-en-le-Frith High School. It's the evacuation centre and muster point for the emergency services after nearby Whaley Bridge was evacuated.
Police have told Whaley Bridge's 6,500 residents to gather at a local school.
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BBC Radio 5 Live
Assistant Chief Constable Kem Mehmet from Derbyshire Police has told BBC Radio 5 Live that the public should to stay away from the evacuated area.
“It’s a total evacuation of Whaley Bridge. And that really means to the public and the residents there that we really do need them to stay away,” he said.
He said contingency plans had been made for every scenario – including if the dam collapses.
“It hasn’t at present. We hope it doesn’t,” he said. "But we need to make sure that the public are safe.”
People unable to get to their homes are being advised to go to Chapel-en-le-Frith High School. The postcode is SK23 0TQ.
ACC Mehmet said vulnerable people were being looked after: “We’ve got plans that have been well tested to be able to deal with our communities, to deal with the public and to deal with vulnerability and those who are infirm.”
He also confirmed that specialist structural engineers were currently assessing the dam.
Sandish Shoker
BBC News
Stewart Hughes who works in the area has told BBC News they were warned about late morning/ lunchtime of a potential evacuation after a part of the dam wall collapsed.
"It has been quite worrying," he said. "A few staff who live in the area went home to move their families to a safe place."
Image source, PA Media
Sonia Kataria
BBC News
Animal Search UK has said its team are responding to requests from owners in Whaley Bridge.
Image source, Animal Search UKSamber Miller tweeted...
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The search team has urged owners to get in touch on 01244 355 247.
BBC News
Stewart Hughes who works in Whaley Bridge tells BBC News the situation is getting worse.
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Amy Woodfield
BBC News
Ambulance workers are assisting other emergency services with the evacuation of Whaley Bridge.
East Midlands Ambulance Service has a specialist Hazardous Area Response Team at the scene to help residents who have been told to leave.
Image source, EMAS
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
The A6 bypass between Chapel-en-le-Firth and Bridgemont has been closed due to the flooding.
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Nick Smith
BBC News Online
Offers of shelter for people displaced by the flooding in Whaley Bridge are being made on social media.
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The RAF helicopter is dropping 400 tonnes of aggregate to shore up Whaley Bridge dam.
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Andy Gill
Reporter, BBC North West Tonight
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Author Hanna Sillitoe tweeted a picture of a fish in her garden after the River Goyt burst its banks.
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BBC Radio 5 Live
Neil Purvis is from Nimbus Antiques in Whaley Bridge.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live that one of his colleagues would not be able to go back to his home.
“My colleague has got a house on the end of the village which is affected so he’s obviously part of the evacuation. He’s been in work all day so he’s probably not aware yet that he can’t return to his house.”
He said they were aware there was a problem last night because water was spilling over the top of the dam.
“No action was taken last night, it was a standard thing really,” he said, “but when we’ve come into work this morning, the police have cordoned off the roads and basically shut down the village.
“We’ve also got helicopters flying around and all sorts going on.
“I’ve lived here for 40 years and we’ve never had any floods like this.
“I think people are pretty resilient and doing what they’re advised to do."
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning of rain for Whaley Bridge up until 20:00 today.
Image source, Met OfficeBBC Weather say that rain is expected until around that time but it is expected ease off in the coming hours and overnight.
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
Trains have been suspended between Hazel Grove and Buxton because of flooding on the railway line in Whaley Bridge.
Image source, National RailIt's affecting Northern train services between Manchester Piccadilly and Buxton.
The company has requested replacement road services but is expecting the disruption to last until the end of the day.
Gardens are submerged as residents evacuate their homes.
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Sandish Shoker
BBC News
Former government minister Edwina Currie lives in Whaley Bridge.
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby this afternoon, she said: "This dam has been there for nearly 200 years – 1830, and I don’t think there have ever been any problems like this before.
"We did have two weeks of rain in 24 hours the other night and the worry is more rain is forecast."
She has been tweeting about the situation in the town, external this afternoon and has warned people not to "go and look at the flooding".
"The big hole that's opened up in the dam is obviously causing real concern," she tweeted,
"Never seen so many police in Whaley Bridge... and it's raining again... stay safe everyone."
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
Police have advised Whaley Bridge residents who have been out of the area to stay away from the town due to a risk of "significant flooding."
A police spokesman said: "We understand that there will be some concern around not being able to return home, however, our priority is to ensure people are kept safe and well and are not taking unnecessary risks.
"This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and we appreciate that there is significant impact on this community, however, this is an unprecedented, fast-moving, emergency situation."
All residents outside the cordon have been asked to go to Chapel High School, Long Lane, Chapel-en-le-Frith for further information.
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