The army and firefighters from across south-west London have been drafted in to help prevent flooding at a water treatment plant in Kenley.

A further 60 people were evacuated from their homes this morning as the operation to pump water away from homes in Dale Road and Godstone Road.

The London Fire Brigade said crew members are working around the clock to prevent the stricken water treatment works at Kenley, near Purley, from flooding.

Your Local Guardian:

The site provides water to 47,000 properties in the area and, to ensure that supply is maintained, crews are pumping 24,000 litres of water a minute away from the affected plant.

As well as helping to evacuate homes on Dale Road and Godstone Road, crews have been sand-bagging properties and about 80 soldiers have helped lay sand bags around the water treatment works.

Firefighters have been at the Kenley site since 9.30pm on Thursday, February 6.

Your Local Guardian:

The leader of Croydon Council, Councillor Mike Fisher, said: “We welcome the help of the military in assisting with the emergency response to the flooding in Kenley and Purley.

“Their role is to prepare and distribute sandbags as an extra measure to protect people's homes from the flooding, and support what has been a fantastic collective response from teams across the council, emergency services and local water companies.”

Fifteen fire engines and about 100 firefighters remain at the scene, along with three high volume pumps and two fire rescue units.

It comes after a week of heavy rainfall across south-west London and Surrey, accompanied by gale force winds last night of up to 70mph.

Have trees come down in your area? How has the adverse weather affected you? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6392 or email: ooakes@london.newsquest.co.uk.

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