Hitchin businesses badly hit by flooding

A number of streets in the town were left under inches of water after storms swept across Hertfordshire and southern England.

Flood water got into retail units, leaving businesses with a hefty clean up operation today, including Craft and Cleaver in Bancroft.

The barbecue restaurant was among the worst hit, with owner Adam Richardson telling the Comet that "a wall of water" rushed in as customers dined on Sunday.

"We were under about two or three inches of water throughout the whole building, and there was just a wall of water that came straight through the back doors," he said.

"It seems to be an issue with the storm drains at the back.

"We had customers in here at the time, so it was pretty bad. We did manage to get everyone out though."

Despite the flooding, an incredible clean up effort means the restaurant should be back open this evening, much to Adam's delight.

While most of the water around the town has cleared, sandbags and makeshift flood defences can still be seen scattered around the streets this morning, but many businesses were able to open as normal.

Sun Street and Bridge Street, which have a reputation for flooding, turned into something reminiscent of a river yesterday.

Quotidian Bakery owner Catriona Smith (Image: Dan Mountney)

Quotidian Bakery was among those hit, with owner Catriona Smith hard at work cleaning up flooding from their Sun Street unit.

"We had flooding coming in the front door and down the chimney out the back. Lots of people on the street were trying to help out," she said.

"The water was way up past the bottom of the window so it was really bad. We've been here moping up and cleaning since 7.30am, and we lost all our electrics too, and we've only just got them back on, but hoping to be open as normal."

Ironically, drainage assessment works on Bridge Street begins tonight, but Catriona believes that cars pose the biggest issue for businesses.

"They're doing drainage assessment this week, but the worst thing is the cars that go past who think it's funny to send the water shooting up, and then it comes into businesses like ours."

Stephanie Rose (Image: Dan Mountney)

Another unlucky business was Stephanie Rose Florist in The Arcade.

Owner Stephanie Rose showed the Comet CCTV footage of the shopping parade last night, which shows a stream of water inches deep rushing down the gentle slope.

The popular florist was badly hit, with Stephanie saying: "We've been in here this morning trying to dry everything out, but luckily only the wooden furniture has been damaged.

"We've still got orders to fulfil today, so it's been difficult, but we're kind of treating it like lockdown. We're still doing business but people can't really come in and browse."

Workers in Sun Street attempt to clear drains during the flooding. (Image: Jessica Platten)