A mother and a baby were trapped by a “terrible” flood

A woman who was trapped in her flat with her six-week-old baby during severe flooding on New Year’s Day said it was “terrifying”.

Neha Day-Morgan was trapped in her top-floor flat on Palatine Road in Didsbury, Manchester, when the River Mersey burst its banks in torrential rain.

Her family, who are now staying with the man’s parents, have been told they won’t be able to return for two weeks while the electricity is repaired, she said.

Ms Day Morgan said the flooding was “frightening” and questioned whether more could have been done to protect residents.

The Environment Agency has issued a warning ahead of severe flooding that has affected more than 1,000 people in Greater Manchester.

Mayor Andy Burnham promised the authority would look into whether the “correct warnings were given”, while local councils raised concerns about the adequacy of flood defences.

Ms Day-Morgan said her husband had gone out to buy food for New Year’s dinner on the morning of the flood but was unable to return due to rising water.

“I was with the children, we did not know what was happening outside, and then he called and said that there was a lot of water in the garage.

“We didn’t expect a large-scale flood,” she said.

After the mains went out, Ms Day-Morgan began to panic because she had no other source of water for the baby.

She called 999 and firefighters took her and her children out of the building by boat.

“The electricity meter is destroyed, there is no water, we are very lucky to be on the top floor,” she said.

“What is worrying is why the authorities were not prepared for this situation,” Ms Day-Morgan said.

“I understand that natural disasters can happen, but knowing that the river is half a mile away, I think there could be a lot more precautions.”

The BBC has approached the building’s property management company for comment.