WATCH: Flood nightmare for Carnforth school neighbours

Amanda Morley and Malcolm Stretch, residents of Bloomfield Park who live opposite Carnforth North Road Primary School.

Malcolm and Mary Stretch who live opposite North Road Primary School said enough is enough after their home flooded for the second time in two months.

Mr Stretch who has lived on Bloomfield Park for nearly 40 years said the school’s drainage system can’t cope when the area is struck by torrential rain.

Malcolm Stretch said: “September last year was the first time the water entered the house. It comes from their playground, across the road, into our driveway, through our garage and eventually into the utility room.

“They did fit a drain in the school yard but it is too small, it can’t cope. It fills up with silt so everytime it does rain it has no where to go but towards us.

“The whole experience has made me very ill, I hardly sleep because it is constantly going through my mind. Mary is up at the window when it rains and her asthma is bad because of the stress.”

Nine-inches of water entered the couple’s home, ruining anything they had at ground level in the garage and utility room, including hoovers, a washing machine and all the flooring.

Malcolm said: “When it flooded the second time my insurance company said they wouldn’t help me and now I’m struggling to get flood cover. It has been absolute turmoil.”

The playground drain at Carnforth North Road Primary School

Amanda Morley, who lives next door to the Stretch family, and Vicky James said they have repeatedly asked the school to fit an adequate drain.

Mrs Morley said: “It affects everyone on the road, it is only going to get worse, there are only 16 houses here.

“The school’s first reaction was to place sandbags in front of our driveways!”

Lancashire County Council investigated the flooding during the severe weather conditions in September and said there were no problems with the drains on the road.

Mr Stretch's garage after the water came in

Adrian Ibison, headteacher at Carnforth North Road Community Primary School, said: “To contribute towards providing a solution to this problem, we are currently extending a drain in the playground to divert water towards a nearby soakaway.”

Mr Stretch has said they have not yet received anything in writing from the school.