TORRENTIAL thunderstorms caused havoc for Ainsworth residents and left one man homeless.

Residents in Church Street watched helplessly as water rose more than seven inches and seeped under their front doors last Thursday.

Firefighters were called to clear blocked drains and pump away the rising water, which dislodged paving stones and left debris floating along the pavement.

The floods have left Gordon Armstrong homeless after being forced to spend the night in a hostel.

Mr Armstrong's daughter, Freda Whitehead, said: "The carpet and electrics are ruined and my dad has nowhere to go. He is distraught and I have had to cancel my holiday because I can't leave him homeless. I don't know where he is going to be rehoused."

Neighbours Majorie and Kenneth Pinder, spent their evening mopping up water spurting from the bathroom drain with brushes and sponges.

Mrs Pinder said: "We have lived here for 11 years and this is the first time it's come up through the drain! I am 82 years old and I shouldn't have to be on my hands and knees mopping up water. It was such a mess."

Sylvia Fitzpatrick watched the fire crews battle to beat the rising water from her first-floor flat.

She said: "It was quite frightening. It always floods when it's torrential rain but normally only lasts ten minutes and then disappears again.

"The firefighters were wonderful. They could have just stopped the water and left, but they stayed and cleared up the debris. They really did their best."

Last year, a filter system was installed in Cockey Moor Road to filter out rubbish from the sewers and help deal with floods. United Utilities confirmed the drainage system was still working but, due to the extreme weather conditions, it was unable to cope with the sheer volume of water.