A garage boss has fought back after the floods.
Matthew Littlewood’s car repair business M.L. Autos at Colne Bridge Works, off Colne Bridge Road, Huddersfield, was under three-and-a-half feet of water on Boxing Day.
Five vehicles, including his courtesy car and recovery truck, were written off along with motor parts and stock and one of his two ramps.
Fortunately, a £16,000 insurance claim has allowed him to move to new premises on the Ashley Industrial Estate in Leeds Road, Bradley.
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Matthew, 30, re-opened for the first time on Monday and said: “It’s a big relief.
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“When I got a call from one of my neighbours on Boxing Day I asked if they’d got any sandbags.
“They said ‘I don’t think sandbags are going to work’ and they were right!
“I took over the business in 2009 and I have seen the river high but I never expected anything like that. It was devastating.
“The water had gone the day after but had left sludge and silt. It was soul-destroying.”
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Matthew’s insurance was ready to pay out but when the firm seemed reluctant to cover him for flooding again he launched a search for new premises, setting up nearby.
“My customers were very patient and have stuck by me,” he said.
“But it’s been a difficult time. Hopefully we can move on from here.”
