Heavy rain on the Isle of Wight has taken its toll on distraught homeowners in Gunville – with up to three foot of floodwater bursting into their homes in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday).

Properties on Gunville Road, near its junction with Ash Lane, have been severely affected.

It is not the first time, either. Last year, up to six foot of floodwater from the nearby river ravaged their homes during Storm Babet.

Among those worst affected is Mandy Tomlinson and her family, who live at number 239.

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Mandy and her neighbours had to desperately move possessions upstairs to spare them from the floodwater this morning.

“At 3am, my partner woke me up to say there was water coming through the roof,” said Mandy, 49.

Mandy Tomlinson next to the river which swelled in the early hours of the morning.Mandy Tomlinson next to the river which swelled in the early hours of the morning. (Image: County Press) Mandy Tomlinson’s flood-ravaged living room. Mandy Tomlinson’s flood-ravaged living room. (Image: County Press) “We looked out the front, saw water bubbling up through the drain, and then it was coming over the sandbags, through the porch seals.

“Then it started coming through the front door and underneath the windows.

“It bent the bottom of the front door; the force of it.

“At the back, water started to pool under the flood defence door, then it came over the flood defence door and came in through the back door.

“At the time, we were just trying to shift everything upstairs.

Mandy Tomlinson showing how high the floodwater was during October’s storm in 2023.Mandy Tomlinson showing how high the floodwater was during October’s storm in 2023. (Image: County Press) Mandy Tomlinson’s flood-ravaged kitchen.Mandy Tomlinson’s flood-ravaged kitchen. (Image: County Press) “Most of our stuff was already upstairs because we knew this was going to happen again.

“I’ve lived here for 24 years, and as soon as the new houses went up across the river, it’s turned what we live in into a big pond.

“The water has nowhere to go. Until last year, I’d only ever seen the water lapping against the pavement.

“All the land behind the river used to be a flood plain and now the water has nowhere to soak away.

“The stream needs clearing and the trees need taking out. It’s so unstable, and if the trees bring down the power lines while we’re flooded, we’re stood in electric water, which will kill us.

Sandbags did little to stop the floodwater from entering Mandy Tomlinson’s home.Sandbags did little to stop the floodwater from entering Mandy Tomlinson’s home. (Image: County Press) The homes among the worst affected in Gunville.The homes among the worst affected in Gunville. (Image: County Press) “Water was coming through the plugs this morning. It’s dangerous.

“It happened last year, during the storm in October, and we were out of here for up to nine months. It was awful, and now it’s happened again.

“They can’t say it’s a one-in-100-year storm now.”

Others to feel the brunt is Dave Byford and his family - Mandy’s neighbours - who live at number 241.

Dave’s home, which he had returned to only two months ago following last year’s flooding, still had a few centimetres of water covering the whole ground floor at 8.30am.

Dave Byford outside his home in Gunville.Dave Byford outside his home in Gunville. (Image: County Press) Dave Byford’s flood-ravaged living room.Dave Byford’s flood-ravaged living room. (Image: County Press) The 45-year-old told the County Press: “At about 2.30am, we woke up to a leak in the roof, which Sovereign Housing are dealing with.

“Then my son noticed water coming through the back door, underneath the flood defence wall.

“Then it started flooding at the front, we phoned 999, and they told us to get upstairs out of danger.

“The floodwater came up past the skirting, just below the radiator.

“All the electrics downstairs have gone. The fridges are all off, so we’ve lost all our food. We did our Christmas shop last week and that’s all gone now.

The stain on the wall above the skirting shows just how high the floodwater got in Dave Byford’s home.The stain on the wall above the skirting shows just how high the floodwater got in Dave Byford’s home. (Image: County Press) Dave Byford’s flood-ravaged kitchen.Dave Byford’s flood-ravaged kitchen. (Image: County Press) “We’re waiting on Sovereign Housing, and I think they’re going to temporarily accommodate us.

“We knew it was going to happen again at some point.

“We’ve been here nine years, and we’d never had a problem until last year, when it was up to about five foot in the house.”

The river which swelled in the early hours of the morning.The river which swelled in the early hours of the morning. (Image: County Press) The homes among the worst affected in Gunville.The homes among the worst affected in Gunville. (Image: Google Maps)UPDATE: 

A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council said: “The Council’s out of hours service logged one call requesting sandbags to be sent to Gunville Road, but no other calls were made to report any flooding incidents overnight.

"Isle of Wight Council officers have been out in communities this morning responding and will continue to do so throughout the day.

"Island Roads have also been out since 2.40am clearing gullies in the Gunville area.

“At this time, we continue to urge residents to report any urgent flooding incidents via the Environment Agency incident hotline: 0800 80 70 60.

"For any other flooding enquiries, contact the Isle of Wight Council on 01983 823600.”

UPDATE:

A spokesperson for Sovereign Network Group said: "Our teams are doing everything we can to support our customers as we know that this will be very upsetting and have a significant impact on their lives.

“Those affected will be offered temporary accommodation later today.

"We’ll also provide our customers with meals and look at what further support we can provide."