BUSINESSES and organisations in the centre of Winchester have started counting the costs of flash floods. 

Torrential rain covered the High Street causing many businesses to act quickly and save what stock they could. 

Many remained closed today while they assessed the damage that the floods have caused.

Noman Qureshi, of Fone World, said that the store has had to throw away more than £3,000 worth of stock.

He said: “I wasn’t expecting this heavy flood, but yesterday the whole shop was washed out.

“The water flowed from the top of the city – it was kind of dangerous. The water was around two-feet high and we just tried to save all the important things

“We’ve had around 100 pieces of luggage which we’ve just had to throw it away.

“We have lost a lot - it all went into the floods.”

The shop has had to rip up its carpet and have been cleaning all day to keep the business going.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Image by Lawrence Chiari

Chococo, in High Street, has not been able to open today as they assess the damage, but hopes to be serving takeaways this weekend.

Co-founder Claire Burnet told the Chronicle: “Our store manager sent us a video just after 5 o’clock saying ‘help the store is flooding’ - it showed water pouring in.  

“It [the water] has gone all the way through, all over to the storage cupboard was flooded.

“Luckily they were really quick and managed to save everything that was on the bottom shelves.”

The business has had electricians in today, but a gelato cabinet at the front of the store fell victim to the floods.

Claire added: “It is heartbreaking as this has been a tough year with lockdown. We reopened when we were allowed to and gradually bringing it back.

“It was only just coming back and  it is heartbreaking to have this now.”

Claire said that her husband cleared the drains outside of their shop to prevent any further damage.

Also cleaning up today were Welcome Gospel Church, on the corner of Colebrook Street.

Members Andrew and Joy Beer, along with Bruce Gates, have spent the day evaluating what could be saved.

Andrew said: “Thankfully we are not as bad as some. Nobody was here so we didn’t know until 5.30pm when people rang us up and said ‘what about Welcome, have you seen the pictures on the news’.

“There was a lot of black deposit from the water. I think the water came in at the front and from the side as well – it was very wet in the back.”

So far the church has had to throw out some books and Bibles, along with some donations meant for missionaries.

They said that their chairs can be saved, but they are unsure of the extent of the damage to their vintage parquet flooring.