During the Boxing Day flood, when Elaine Connolly came back to her house after trying to help an old man down the road, the water was so high in her garden that the doors weren't an option...
"I tried to get back into my home and I couldn't at first" she recalls "The water was at the top of my legs outside in the garden so my husband pulled me in through the window."
Inside the house, the silted, mudded water covered everything downstairs, ruining the cooker, fridge and more. Almost everyone in the Lower Broughton community suffered the same carnage but for Elaine it was a double blow as she also runs her child minding business from home, looking after eight youngsters aged four months to eleven years old. All the toys and play things, from slides outside to dolls inside, were trashed.
"My garden is set up for the kids with two sheds full of things; everyone jet washed them for me but they didn't come any cleaner" Elaine explains "Everything's been thrown."
At first, she thought her insurance covered the toys but it didn't; only the kids in her care. However, after a short note on Facebook outlining her predicament the community, yet again, came to the rescue...
"I had people knocking on my door with toys who I didn't even know" she recalls "They just literally knocked and said `Are you Elaine?' I can't tell you how many people came round. Even my daughter's boyfriend's granddad turned up with a new slide and Wendy house."
Indeed, Elaine was inundated with indoor toys, which are being shared with fellow flood victim child minder, Adele. Any left over will either be given to local youngsters or sold, with the money going into the disaster fund.
It wasn't just people calling around with toys. Elaine, who is disabled, also had massive assistance in cleaning up from family, friends and friends of friends who she didn't even know. And after they had sorted her house, they went on to other houses in the area helping the community clear up. However, while her own back yard was jet washed twice, the authorities, for obvious reasons, wouldn't let Elaine carry on her child minding from home...
"Early Learning came round and said `Sorry you can't work in your house, under no circumstances are kids allowed to come anywhere near the door'" she explains "I couldn't have the RITA house because it was too small, so they got me into River View Primary School. The Head said myself and Adele, who looks after six children, could have it free for a month. I've been told my house will take at least three months to dry so I'm hoping he'll extend it."
Meanwhile, Salford Council has been round offering business support and Salix Homes has been giving advice... "No-one's had a holiday, they've all been here helping the community" says Elaine "Everyone's been brilliant and I'd just thank to thank anyone who has helped in some way..."
* If any flood victims need any toys please contact Salford Star and we will pass on the message info@salfordstar.com
* The child minders are still in need of big outdoor play items - if anyone has any to donate please get in touch and we will pass the info on.
Photos by Steven Speed
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