BUSINESSES in flood-hit areas of East Lancashire have said that there’s still a long way to go before they fully recover from the Boxing Day disaster.

On December 26, hundreds of people were left homeless as the army was called in to evacuate homes in Ribble Valley and Padiham.

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Water levels in Whalley’s King Street were so high those who were stranded had to be rescued by boats.

Waist-high water poured into people’s homes and shops as rivers burst their banks due to excessive rain fall.

The festive spirit was soon forgotten after the water subsided and the true damage was revealed.

However, seven months on from the disaster, small signs of normal life have started to return, according to business owners.

Kellie Hughes, who runs a hair studio in King Street, said life took a dramatic turn in December.

She said: “It’s been so difficult trying to get everything back to normal, but we are slowly getting there.

“It’s still affecting a lot of people in the village, a lot of people haven’t returned to their homes.

“I had to reopen the shop almost instantly as I have employees to pay, we did the best we could and we got by.

“It’s only now really that everything is coming into perspective.

“Everyone has been so busy with their their own problems and everyone else’s, we are only just coming up for air.”

Community funds were set up across the county for donations of clothes, food and drying equipment.

Millions of pounds worth of damage was caused across the region with bridges, houses and river defences destroyed.

Parts of Padiham suffered considerable damage with many businesses yet to reopen.

Harry Garlick, an electronics shop in Burnley Road, has been closed since the floods and is still under restoration.

A spokesman from the company said: “The shop is hopefully going to be reopened in August, but there have been issues along the way.

“It’s been a difficult few months but we want to thank all our loyal customers who have had to travel to the Burnley store.”

“The floods caused so much damage to Padiham.”

Deputy leader of Ribble Valley Council, Cllr Terry Hill, who represents Whalley, said: “The village is getting on with what its supposed to be doing.

“All but a few shops have partly reopened, but hardly anyone has moved back into their homes.”