"It was overwhelming": The clean up mission after flooding in Hook

Volunteers leapt to help clean up and provide freshly made soup for those affected by flooding in Hook over the weekend.

Water gushed into the street after a water main burst in Hook Road in the early hours of Saturday morning, swamping cars and homes.

There were unconfirmed reports of a woman in labour being dragged through flood waters in a boat. Some residents may not be able to return home for weeks.

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FROM THE WEEKEND: Fire crews deal with flooding in Chessington affecting 40 homes

Chessington South councillor Rachel Reid said: "It was overwhelming. There wasn't actually a huge amount, thankfully, to clear up. But the amount of people that volunteered to do it was great.

"It was just really nice to know that in a time of trouble people are willing to step in.

"The police were first on the scene, in terms of knocking on residents' doors and telling them what's going on."

Pics: Colin Huntingford

The Hook Centre was opened up to anyone who needed help during the flooding, and Chessington World of Adventures offered shower facilities for people without water.

Cllr Reid added: "One lovely lady actually turned up to the Hook Centre with homemade soup should anyone need it."

About 40 homes in Hook Road, Clayton Road, Cecil Close, St Paul’s Close and Selwood Road were affected when the 24-inch pipe burst.

A Thames Water spokesman said: "We’re very sorry for the disruption over the weekend.

"We’ve spoken to all the individual customers who suffered in the flooding to make sure they are fully covered for any damage to their property, and will continue to support them throughout the insurance process.

"Our engineers worked around the clock over the weekend and into the early hours of Monday to make sure repairs to the damaged pipe and road were finished in time for rush-hour this morning, and everything should now be back to normal."