TORRENTIAL downpours and flash flooding brought Merseyside to a standstill and left hundreds of residents fearing for their homes.
Huge parts of Liverpool were under water yesterday, with many main roads closed and schools across the city forced to send children home early.
Commuters heading north out of the city found themselves caught in gridlock when floods forced the closure of the Seaforth flyover, sending motorists into long diversions through Bootle to reach Crosby.
A city council spokesman told the Daily Post major routes such as Allerton Road, Queens Drive at Childwall Fiveways and Aigburth Road were cut off by floodwaters.
He added: “The flooding was due simply to torrential rain in a short period.
“When there is such heavy rain, the drainage system just cannot cope.
“We have been working flat out to try and alleviate the situation.”
Other areas hit hard were Alexandra Drive, Aigburth, where wheelie bins and rubbish were left floating in the middle of the street, and Melwood Drive, West Derby, which trapped motorists when a mini- roundabout was submerged.
Many householders reported rapidly rising water levels outside their homes and Merseytravel said buses were running late due to major floods on all routes.
Schools forced to close included Christ The King, in Wavertree, St Margaret’s High School, in Aigburth and Dovedale Infants School, in Mossley Hill, which shut an hour early after water drenched its boiler room.
Derek Moore, of Woodgreen Road, Old Swan, said he was called to pick his four children up from Corinthian Primary School, in Stoneycroft, early.
He added: “The flooding was up to our front step but luckily that was the worst it got.
“It usually subsides within about an hour after the rain stops, but then you are left with raw sewage all over the pavements.”
