Fiskerton flood-threatened villagers 'as ready as we can be'

Neil French fears villagers will be living with the threat of flooding throughout the winter

Just a few hundred yards from the centre of Fiskerton, several large cracks can be seen in the banks of the River Witham after heavy rain brought by Storm Babet caused the land to slip and prompted the emergency evacuation of around 80 properties.

But, nearly a week on and with residents now allowed back to their homes, many remain concerned difficulties with starting the repair work could leave them vulnerable for many months. The BBC's Paul Murphy has been to speak to some of those affected.

"We are as ready as we can be," Anthony Nunns tells me.

"We've got a bag of clothes packed [and] all the sentimental things that we've got, they are all tidied away in the attic."

Anthony Nunns has clothes packed in case they have to leave

While hundreds of properties across Lincolnshire have been inundated with flood water in recent days, people like Mr Nunns are living a different nightmare.

Fiskerton is at the mercy of a damaged flood bank on the nearby River Witham, the only barrier between his home and about 80 others and a waterway which drains more than 1,000 sq miles of a flooded county.

While the defence withstood the deluge of last week, if it fails the consequences are unthinkable.

The damaged river bank in Fiskerton

Many, like Mr Nunns, have moved valuable possessions upstairs or packed an overnight bag into the car boot.

At present, experts say there is little chance of getting heavy machinery across water-logged fields to repair the damaged flood defences.

Neil French said he was fearful it could take until late spring for the work to be carried out.

"They put a support rail in, but with it being underwater it will be really wet and no heavy machinery will get across until May time so we've got the whole winter," he told me.

He said most people wanted to stay in their homes, but they have made preparations to leave if necessary.

"It is unfortunate that Plan B is if the bank goes, we go," he said.

"We've got a caravan and we can go with that."

Mr Nunns shares his concerns, telling me: "These things cannot be fixed quickly.

"You can't get on the land because it is just too soft and it needs some heavy machinery."

Lincolnshire Resilience Forum, which coordinates the efforts of different agencies, said on Monday measures were in place in case the circumstances changed.

"While the riverbank will take some weeks to fully repair, a 24-hour surveillance system operated by the Environment Agency means we can take quick action to ensure those potentially affected can move out quickly," a spokesperson said.

In the meantime, with another winter storm forecast, Fiskerton is in a watery limbo and all eyes are on the river.

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