Council emergency teams started the week by working late into the night amid fresh flood alerts in Erewash – barely a month after the town hall launched a huge effort to get grant aid to locals following the havoc of Storm Babet.

The latest quick response – in the wake of heavy rain and melting snow – came as residents and businesses continued flocking to apply for financial assistance over October’s floods.

The more recent torrents appeared to have largely spared homes – but council crews toiled until midnight delivering three tonnes of sandbags to the Station Road area of Ilkeston (Monday, 4 December).

The Environment Agency had issued a yellow flood warning there for the River Erewash – although this was downgraded by the following morning (Tuesday, 5 December). Sandbags were also delivered to houses in Borrowash along the A52.

In Risley the main road was flooded. An elderly lady was rescued after her car got stuck in water.

Hotspots known to be liable to flooding included Wilne Road at Sawley, which was described as impassable. The Foundry Park industrial estate at Stanton by Dale was also affected. It lies beside Trowell Marsh.

October’s flooding saw Erewash offer supplies of sandbags to parish councils so locals could get hold of them faster.

Residents flooded after Storm Babet have been entitled to sums of up to £500 via the council.  Businesses may have been entitled to payouts worth  £2,500.

Applications for these payments are now closed

Erewash’s leader Councillor James Dawson said as heavy rain on Thursday led to yet more alerts over water levels in the River Erewash, the Trent and Bottle Brook:

“It is a relief that the latest flooding has not been anywhere near the scale of that from Storm Babet. But with a long winter ahead it is vital that people have flood plans prepared if they fear their properties are at risk.”