11:31AM, Mon Aug 6, 2012

More Misery for Tyneside Residents As Homes Flood Again

By Adrian Hogg Location: Gateshead

A dog called Lucky was one of the many that had to be rescued as flash floods returned to the North East.

It was a distressing case of history repeating itself for owner Shelly Burnham whose home was still under repair after being badly damaged in previous floods only weeks ago.

Shelley and her pet had to be rescued by firemen in a boat from her home in Eastwood Gardens, Felling, Gateshead.

Like many other people across Tyneside, the latest downpour undid all the repair work done since the floods hit the region on June 28.

Shelly, 36, had been at her mum's house with her 11-year-old son Jordan when the rain started.
She said: "I came home because I was worried about the rain, and in 10 minutes the house was flooded.
"I came out and got my neighbour and my uncle who lives in the street to get stuff moved upstairs but most was too heavy and the water was coming in too quick.
"It was the same as happened five weeks ago and we are back to the same situation again, everything is ruined."
The fire service had to rescue Shelly and her dog Lucky, a two-year-old mongrel, as water had risen to around five feet - almost over Shelly's head.
"Lucky's not leaving my side, she's following me everywhere and is terrified," said Shelly, a sales assistant.
"I am just glad my son was not with me, he had stayed at my mum's house.
"I was shaking and I am an adult, it would have been awful for him - the first floods scared him enough.
"Since the last flood I have been living in the upstairs of the property, the landlady had been having the kitchen redone and the downstairs replastered.
"Now I don't know what we'll do," she said.
Joanne Smith had just moved back into her home in Green Lane Gardens, Felling, with daughter Michaela, 20, and son Dean, 16, after flooding caused extensive damage back in June.
Yesterday, the 43-year-old was trapped in her home as flood water crept up outside her front and back doors.
"The water has been coming through the sink,” she said.
"We cannot get out the back or front door because the water is about two inches from coming in the house.
"We just moved back in on Friday.
"I was due to go to work at 5pm but once again the flooding is getting in the way of my work. It's terrible."
She added: "I can't believe it's happening again. This is just like last time and absolutely nothing's changed at all. Our houses are going to be ruined for a second time."