Whaley Bridge dam emergency - live: Reservoir wall at ‘high risk’ of collapse as entire town near Manchester evacuated amid major flood fears

Derbyshire town evacuated as water level rises

Whaley Bridge: Derbyshire town evacuated as Toddbrook Reservoir dam wall collapses

Emergency services are working to secure a dam amid fears it could collapse after damage caused by extreme weather.

An evacuation has been launched and members of the public are being warned to stay out of the area around Derbyshire's Toddbrook Reservoir, near Manchester, after officials discovered the damage.

Authorities have told members of the public to "stay away" from the area in case residents and businesses need to be evacuated.

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load.

Key Points

• 'It's terrifying': Residents flee homes as water rises
• Whaley Bridge evacuated by police
• Public told to avoid affected area
• Images reveal damage to reservoir wall

[1 August 2019 15:21 · Andrew Griffin]

Derbyshire Police tweeted: "Warnings to stay away from the Whaley Bridge area are continuing. Residents who have been at work, or away from the area, are strongly advised to stay away following advice from the EnvAgency who have indicated that the incident currently poses a significant threat to life.

"Anyone outside the cordon is asked to go to Chapel High School, Long Lane, ChapelEnLeFrith, High Peak, SK23 0TQ, where further direction will be given. Please make arrangements to stay with friends/family, if you can't you will be accommodated but there is limited capacity.

"We understand that there will be some concern around not being able to return home, however our priority is to ensure people are kept safe and well and are not taking unnecessary risks.

"This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and we appreciate that there is significant impact on this community, however this is an unprecedented, fast-moving, emergency situation."

[1 August 2019 15:24 · Andrew Griffin]

Picture from a drone from Derbyshire Police:

[1 August 2019 15:36 · Andrew Griffin]

These aerial pictures show the full extent of the damage to the wall – and just how close that reservoir is:

[1 August 2019 15:38 · Andrew Griffin]

As a helicopter hovered above the village, police officers were going door to door in Whaley Bridge to get everyone out.

Going the other way were teams of council workers and mountain rescue vehicles heading into the village.

Dragging a suitcase of possessions up the deserted high street, local David Holt said: "Police are knocking on, evacuating everyone within risk of that dam wall breaking.

"If it's going to go, it's going to go straight through the village.

"Police are asking you to gather some belongings, leave your house in a secure condition and go to a local school.

"We've taken an elderly neighbour to a friend's house and are heading to the school now."

[1 August 2019 15:42 · Andrew Griffin]

Emergency services making their way through the centre of the village

[1 August 2019 15:42 · Andrew Griffin]

Here's a resident being told to leave his house earlier:

[1 August 2019 15:47 · Andrew Griffin]

Here's that wall from the other side:

[1 August 2019 15:49 · Andrew Griffin]

The forecast for Whaley Bridge from the Met Office is looking even more foreboding than it did earlier. It's now projecting storms in the next couple of hours:

[1 August 2019 15:57 · Andrew Griffin]

The weather is leading to train closures in the local area. Full details can be found here.

[1 August 2019 16:26 · Chris Baynes]

Whaley Bridge residents say the River Goyt is higher today than they’ve ever seen it, reports The Independent's North of England correspondent Colin Drury, who has been speaking to some of those evacuated.

Paul Nash, whose garden backs on to the waterway, said: “It’s normally 20ft below the back wall but last night it was 3ft. It’s terrifying. Everything we own is in the house.”

Paul Nash and Janet Williams have been evacuated from their home (picture: Colin Drury)