Holidaymakers flee flooding at campsite (1 Viewer)

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Frightened holidaymakers were forced to flee their pitches after fast-flowing river water gushed into a campsite.

Water poured into St Neots Camping and Caravanning Club after the banks of the River Great Ouse burst due to heavy rainfall.

Site managers Sheila, 58, and Mick Scoles, 56, alerted people to pack up their motorhomes and tents in the early hours of Monday morning as the site became submerged under 3ft of water.

A stranded motorhome was towed to safety by a tractor as three quarters of the site, in Hardwick Road, Eynesbury, filled up.

Sheila, who became manager of the club with her husband only four weeks ago, described the surge as “frightening”.

She said: “When the banks burst the water just surged in and everyone was really frightened – it was surreal.

“Since then the campsite has been completely underwater – and at one point water came right up to the reception area.

“Luckily, everyone was cleared off the site safely.

“My husband has even been using a canoe to get from one part of the site to another to start the clear-up operation.”

Sheila said the company has now lost “thousands of pounds” worth of bank holiday bookings because of the floods.

The club, which contains 180 pitches, has closed until Monday, May 14 when hardstandings will be reopened to customers.

The Environment Agency issued a flood alert in St Neots at 1pm on Sunday, which remains in place.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said: “There was some flooding at the caravan site on Sunday and on Monday but no water entered any of the caravans and they were moved to higher ground.

“We are continuing to monitor the river and we expect levels to rise over the next few days as the peak makes it way downstream.”

Sheila added: “Despite the flooding, the scene was actually quite idyllic with geese and swans coming to rest on the water. However, this is obviously a big blow for us and it will take a while to clean up.”

Meanwhile, cyclists faced tough peddling as the guided busway cycle track became overwhelmed with water. The weather is set to improve in Cambridgeshire this weekend with no rain forecast.
 

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