direct to your inboxThe Environment Agency waited 20 hours too long to raise the flood threat level in Didsbury, it has been claimed, leading to evacuations taking place in darkness and wintry conditions.An earlier raising of the level to 'severe' would likely have led to the earlier evacuation of parts of south Manchester on the brink of flooding.
Instead, vulnerable pensioners shielding from Covid-19, and families with young children were pulled from their homes in Didsbury and Northenden late at night, and in the middle of a blizzard.
The severe 'risk to life' flood warning was issued by the Environment Agency at around 7.30pm on Wednesday night, as the River Mersey looked close to bursting following heavy rainfall.
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