What a wash-out — and there’s more on way

Camping misery off Well-i-Hole Road, Greenfield

ROADS were flooded, a tree fell over and sporting events were called off across Oldham in yet another miserable weekend of torrential rain.

And the Environment Agency warned people to brace themselves for a lot more rain today.

Saddleworth Cricket Club disappeared under water as the River Tame burst its banks, forcing Saturday’s match to be cancelled.

Secretary Graham Oldham said the river had broken its banks twice before this year but had only reached the outskirts of the ground.

The river also flooded a camping ground off Well-i-Hole, in Greenfield,. Motorists had to drive through inches of water at the lowest part of the road.

Evening Chronicle weatherman Damian Rodgers said Oldham had half a month’s rainfall over Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He recorded 39mm of rain over the three days. In July so far 98mm of rain has fallen across Oldham — the average for the whole of July is around 80mm.

Several roads across the borough were flooded over the weekend, including Huddersfield Road, Delph, near the Horse and Jockey pub, although vehicles were still able to get through.

A tree damaged a garage at the rear of a house in Rochdale Road, Royton, during Friday lunchtime when it crashed down after cracking.

Winnifred Halley heard a “terrific bang” from her living room, and discovered the tree sprawled across her back garden.


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