Bournemouth felt the true cost of severe flooding and torrential downpour as thousands of pounds of damage closed local businesses.

Dorset Police received reports of severe flooding and damage to buildings and roads earlier today.

Whilst local residents were forced to stay indoors and Bournemouth Air Festival was put on hold, business and home-owners tried their best to stop Mother Nature wreaking havoc upon their belongings.

Independent furniture shop Living 4 Less in Winton suffered when torrential downpour flooded the High 

Street.

Co-owner, Frank Roberts told BHbeat: “All of a sudden the water just gushed through our doors, I was horrified. It came through the front doors and of course, it came through the back doors and joined up like a huge river gushing through the store”

Having only been open for eight months, Mr Roberts estimated the damage at a loss of £25, 000 worth of stock.

“I’ve got a family to support and a mortgage to pay, but we have the insurance assessors in tomorrow so we should be okay. We’ve had to close today and I think we’ll be closed for a couple of weeks.”

Meanwhile, the charity shop next door PDSA suffered similar flood damage. Assistant Manager, Gina Powell, told BHbeat the flooding reached up to a third of the shop.

“We used clothes and towels to just try and flood-proof as best we could. Then we realised it was coming out the drains in the back car park aswell.

“It was scary and horrible but I’m lucky I’ve got a good team of volunteers who will be helping the clean-up tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Bournemouth Borough Council have announced that a borough-wide water removal operation has begun.

Original Article