FLOODS 6-11-00. Over the last 12 months I have shown many flooded field pictures. However on the 6th the opportunity for some spectacular pictures arose.

Paul took these pictures at about 10am and at this point the water was still rising. When he took the pictures the heifers were on high ground on the Middle Meadow, out of harms way or so I thought.

At 2pm I got a gut feeling to go down again and check and found them stranded on a strip of grass at the riverside. Although they could have followed me around the edge in a mere 300mm (1ft) of water, they, having seen the gate open at the opposite side of the field (where I wanted them) they made for it.

Now bearing in mind that the middle meadow slopes from the gateway upwards to the river when they reached the middle of the field they were forced to swim for it. Next-Door neighbour Chris from his back- yard watches all this. "Just like one of those western films" was the quote when I saw him 3 days later.

If they get into that depth of water where they are now I'll be worried, the town of Middlewich will be under 7m (22ft) of water.

The next series of photos was taken a mere 48 hours later

this log must weigh at least 150kgs (3cwt) and as you see it is 200m (220yds) from the river.	This line of leaves was left by the retreating water
ook at the rubbish left in the hedge bottom, the mud line in the hedge at a point 100m (110yds) from the river is 1.5m (5ft) high.	This final picture shows the river bank collapsing due to the water

As I have previously stated the River Dane is one of the fastest rising rivers anywhere and this 48-hour series of photos just proves it.

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