Wear Valley - Home in time for Christmas

The residents were moved to accommodation in Newcastle and Hexham when the River Gaunless burst its banks in June and sent a torrent of filthy water swirling around South Church, including Church View Residential Home.

The privately owned home, in Main Street, had to gutted and completely refurbished at a cost of thousands of pounds when it emerged the effluent from the drains had left the building contaminated.

Almost six months later, the residents can now look forward to seeing their freshly decorated home with its new carpets, furniture, bathrooms, fitted kitchen and bedding.

Jacky Lowes, manager of the home, said: "We've been open three years and most of the residents have been there since then.

"They coped well but obviously it has made a difference with relatives having to travel and perhaps not being able to visit as freely.

"The home has been closed since June but it looks lovely now after its major refurbishment. It will be opening on Monday with an open house on Friday for anyone who wants to come along."

The residents were moved upstairs when the flooding was at its worst before finally being evacuated with the help of the emergency services.

Staff relocated 42 pensioners including a 92-year-woman. Jacky said: "Resi-dents' belongings were either sent with them or put into storage. Then everything was just put into skips and taken away and the building was stripped and partially replastered.

"The staff also had to travel to Newcastle every day from around here to look after them. We initially thought the home might be open sooner but there's been a delay because there's been so much work to be done."

She said a fear of further flooding had made residents a bit nervous, but they were reassured by the beck being reinforced and work carried out to improve the drainage system.

l The residential home is holding an open house day on Friday from 10am-6pm