Staff 'carry kids through water' as Northfield school suffers flooding 'terror'

Heavy rainfall across the Midlands prompted an amber alert from the Met Office

Staff at a Northfield school were forced to carry children through flood water to worried parents. Flooding has spread across the West Midlands due to heavy rains, leading to a Met Office amber alert.

St Laurence Church Infant School, which was forced to close today, September 27, shared a dramatic video showing a 'river' flowing through the playground. A fence was broken by the cascade of water which flooded most of the steps outside the school entrance.

The headteacher revealed children were 'terrified' as they saw rising water outside classroom windows on Bunbury Road. Although the flooding has since disappeared, staff, parents and school governors have been sweeping the playground which is matted with mud and debris.

Read more: Birmingham's child poverrty scandal

Neighbouring St Laurence Church Junior School meanwhile suffered 'rivers' through corridors. It also closed to clean up in time for re-opening on Monday, September 30, appealing for portable heaters and dehumidifiers.

Headteacher Catherine Smith said: "Last night the heavy rain started and gutters were overflowing. We had a river of water coming into all entrances and the playground was flooded, it broke through the fence.

"It reached the fourth step to a school entrance and kids were terrified looking out of the windows. Our deputy head had to put on his wellies and carry children to their parents through the playground.

"He did a fantastic job. The water has gone down and we have debris, mud and bricks all over the playground. Parents, school governors and staff are all sweeping it.

"We also had flooding through the roof. We are just keeping the heating high and waiting for things to dry up, we also made the fence safe again.

"We have never seen anything like it and our community have been fantastic. We expect to open on Monday, thank you to everyone who has helped."

An amber alert was issued by the Met Office as West Midlands experienced serious downpours. This has led to widespread road closures and disruption to schools, trains and more.

It has affected south Birmingham with people in several areas including Stirchley, Edgbaston and Bournville warned their properties were expected to flood.

A post on the school's official Facebook page shared at 6:16pm yesterday, read: "Thank you everyone for your kindness - we really do have the most amazing community!!!

"The infant school isn’t too badly affected inside - Mr Rollings has turned up the heating and he thinks we’ll be dry by Monday. The playground has lots of debris and the fence is broken - if anyone has a broom, shovel or wheelbarrow and can spare a short time to help clean up tomorrow morning around 9am we would be really grateful.

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"We don’t think it will take too long! The Junior school is much worse inside than we are - there was extensive flooding including their boiler house.

"If anyone has a spare dehumidifier or portable heater, they would be grateful to borrow them if they could be dropped off tomorrow morning! We know there are also many families who have been affected, especially down towards the railway station.

"At St Laurence, we are so good at looking after each other - so check on your friends - they might be in much greater need than we are!"

The school are supporting the local community and neighbouring roads affected by the flood.