Hotel evacuated as boats sent to rescue 'hundreds' of people amid severe south Manchester flooding

A Britannia hotel in south Manchester was evacuated due to severe flooding. The Britannia Country House hotel on Palatine Road, Didsbury, understood to be housing asylum seekers, was evacuated after the area became submerged, following a night of heavy rainfall on New Year's Eve.

The River Mersey earlier burst it banks, with water quickly filling neighbouring streets. Nearby Fletcher Moss Gardens also became completely flooded, with emergency crews dispatched to the area.

Pictures taken from the scene on Wednesday evening showed a heavy fire service and police presence. Numerous water rescue units were called to the scene with boats sent to transport people to safety.

A local resident said emergency crews told her there were 'hundreds of people' that needed to be rescued from the surrounding area.

Three police tactical aid unit vans turned up as firefighters wearing water rescue kits were seen walking into the cordon. Mountain Rescue teams were also called to the incident.

The road was closed at the junction with Mersey Road and Dane Road West amid the multi-agency rescue operation. Rubber boats full of people were seen transporting those from the venue to the edge of the cordon.

Exactly how many people were rescued has not been confirmed. A witness said they were informed the power at the venue had also been cut off due to the extent of the flooding.

"There are boats here now," one witness said. "The police officer said that there’s like no power in the hotel or anything and they’re having to use torches.

"Boats full of people are coming out. An ambulance has come and gotten patients. [There are] multiple boat teams, two enhanced rescue units and ambulances."

Sarah Baram, 40, a local resident, lives in a top floor