… Apologies to fans of 1980s popular beat music but this isn’t a warning that Marti Pellow and the boys have moved into town (that’s old news as they’ve been living harmoniously above the betting shop for four months…). No, this is to warn residents that many parts of Beckworth are currently under water due to flash flooding. Between 8am and 10am 6’7″ of torrential rain fell on the town overwhelming drains and causing the river to burst it banks. The local water authority and insurers have pledged to do nothing as it’s “An act of God” and so not covered. Unless we pay them handsomely of course. The fire brigade are doing what they can with stirrup-pumps and the WI are out in force with buckets and mops as the big clear up begins…. How I wish the council could help, but budget cuts mean we have no staff left with the applicable wet-weather training. G. Grimsby. Mayor

(Above) A visibly cautious Marti Pellow navigates Beckworth’s emerging deep puddles