Floods: Wellington the dog swims to safety

An elderly labrador called Wellington had to swim to safety as the floodwaters rose around his home.

Sisters Julie and Patricia Barnes, 62 and 66, live in one of the riverside houses encircled by floodwater in Straight Road last week.

Although the living area with the vital electric sockets is upstairs above the flood level, there were 22 inches of water in the reception and 18 inches in the hall.

Julie said: "The water rose three inches between 7am and 11am on Friday so we decided to go. We could use waders to get through the water but poor Wellington had to swim."

By Wednesday, the water levels had dropped dramatically and the sisters were returning to their house to clean up. Wellington, who has arthritis of the spine,  has been kept warm and is recovering nicely.