Midland Village Flooded Twice in a Year Leaves Residents Terrified of Rain
Residents of a Midland village say they are now terrified every time it rains after their community was devastated by flooding twice within a single year. More than 50 homes in Great Glen, Leicestershire, were inundated with water in January 2025, a significant increase from the five homes affected the previous year during Storm Henk.
Couple's Ordeal with Terminal Cancer and Autoimmune Illness
Among those hit hardest were Andy Smith, 68, and his wife Angela, whose home dates from 1610. Andy, who has terminal cancer, said there were no records of flooding when they bought the property in 2014. The first flood occurred on January 2, 2024, forcing them to replace everything downstairs.
"Everything downstairs was new, the kitchen was new," Andy recalled. "We lived upstairs for a month, but that was enough. We've got two dogs, so I was having to carry them downstairs, let them out on a piece of grass that I'd tried my best to decontaminate. Then I'd take them back in the house, wash their paws, carry them back upstairs. That was exhausting."
They moved into alternative accommodation on February 2, 2024, and were preparing to return home on January 10, 2025. However, another flood struck on January 6, 2025, with water reaching three feet high inside their house.
"I sat in the car and there were a few tears. Everything brand new was destroyed," Andy said. "It was a pretty horrendous time. Angela has a rare autoimmune illness, called scleroderma, and her health has really suffered over the last two years."
Displacement Lasting Nearly Two Years
The couple finally returned home in October 2025, having been displaced for 21 months total. To prevent future flooding, they installed floodgates and had house walls repointed with waterproof mortar. Andy also added fluid restraints in their garage, which sits below the house.
"We've still got the back garden to sort," he added, highlighting the ongoing recovery efforts.
Another Family's Struggle to Return Home
Susan and Gurdip Bains, whose property is on Main Street, are still recovering from the flooding. Their home was flooded up to the first two steps inside, and they awoke to find they couldn't descend the stairs without wading through water.
Twelve months later, they have yet to return. Initially staying in a Premier Inn, they then rented a property in Great Glen that was sold within six months, forcing them to relocate to Oadby. They are finally scheduled to move back in March 2026, over a year and two months since the flooding.
"We're not back yet so basically, the fixtures and fittings and the kitchen's been fitted," Susan explained. "All the cupboard doors and knobs and everything have just got to be fitted. The painting work has started now."
When visited in early February 2025, dehumidifiers filled the house for months as concrete and walls remained too damp for builders to begin work. One ground floor room required floorboards to be lifted and concrete added to prevent future water ingress.
"And then we're having flood doors put in. And we're having some drainage put in after they finish the house," Susan said. "So there's still quite a lot of work to do on the outside. I'm just dreading moving back in, but I've got to be excited as well. We've had the worst of the floods. Nothing can get worse now."
Official Recommendations for Flood Preparedness
The Environment Agency advises residents to assess their flood risk, register for complimentary flood warnings, and stay informed with the latest updates at check-for-flooding.gov.uk. This guidance comes as communities like Great Glen face increasing threats from extreme weather events.
