Stafford Cricket and Hockey Club flooded for second time in four months

Stafford Cricket and Hockey Club was hit by flooding on October 27 now just two weeks before it was due to reopen after a refurbishment it has flooded again.

Hundreds of pounds was raised in a fundraising appeal for the club and it was set to reopen on February 28.

But now the reopening night has had to be postponed after the brook burst its banks on Sunday night.

Helen Paling, secretary, said: "After the heavy rainfall of both Storms Ciara and Dennis, the brook that runs along side the access road leading to Stafford Cricket & Hockey Club has once again burst it's banks and our clubhouse has flooded overnight.

"This is devastating news just two weeks before our grand reopening night, when the repair work from the flood in October was virtually complete.

"Despite the valiant efforts of club members on Sunday afternoon laying sandbags and lifting what items we could in the hope of keeping the water out, the club has flooded to the approximate height of the skirting boards.

"On Sunday night an attempt was made to install a submersible pump to try and limit the damage however the water level wasn't sufficient for it to be effective.

"We were due to meet with the Environment Agency at the end of February to plan our future strategy for flood defences/prevention. In the light of the frequency of such extreme weather events, this will now become a major priority for us moving forward.

"Unfortunately this means our club will once again be closed while we wait for the water level to drop so the drying out process can commence."