River flooding fear prompts rest centre set up

An emergency rest centre has been set up for people living in park homes near a rising river following heavy rainfall brought by Storm Bert.

The residential parks, Iford Bridge Home Park, Redhill and Wheatplot Home Park, and Stour Park, are near the River Stour where a flood warning is in place

At Iford Bridge Home Park the mains power was turned off at 23:30 GMT with residents urged to prepare for flooding and pack an overnight bag.

BCP Council said it had set up the rest centre in Kings Park Leisure and Learning Centre in Bournemouth.

Robbie Strudwick, who lives near Iford Bridge Home Park, said many residents from the park were helped from their homes overnight as a precaution.

He said he had moved everything in his home "out of the flood's reach" on the ground floor.

Wading through the water he said it "was nearly 1m at the entrance of the caravan park".

"It's sad to see, he continued, adding: "Hopefully it will go down through the day and the residents can move back in."

The council said the centre in the former bowling alley was ready to help and support residents from the park who may be impacted by potential flooding.

The river level is expected to rise with more heavy rain forecast across the south of England on Tuesday evening.

The Environment Agency (EA) has issued 15 flood warnings across Dorset.

It advised that if a flood warning was in place people should move their families and pets to a safe place, and vehicles to higher ground, if it was safe to do so.

During Christmas 2013, residents at Iford Home Park were rescued from their homes overnight after the riverside spot flooded.

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