Deluge causes flooding problems

ALMOST an inch of rain fell within four hours in Lurgan one day in June 1966.

It was the heaviest deluge to hit the town for a number of years.

The torrential downpour flooded houses, blocked roads, made driving conditions hazardous and soaked hundreds of unwary pedestrians and cyclists.

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At Carrick Drive two families had to evacuate when over taxed sewers spilled surplus water into the prefab bungalows through the toilets.

Filthy water inside the toilet reached a depth of about a foot.

Carpets, wallpaper and furniture were destroyed.

The borough surveyor and a team of workmen laboured long into the night at the numerous trouble spots.

They kept a watchful eye on the affected areas and erected signs and lights to warn motorists.

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In the Mourneview estate gullies and sewers failed to cope with the storm water draining from the nearby fields and both Pollock Park and Mourne Road were blocked for a time.

Homes in Kelly Gardens, Kilwilke, were threatened by rising floods but these subsided and no damage was caused to property.