EMERGENCY plans have been activated amid flooding.

Rain is expected to continue pouring throughout the night, with the Met Office having issued an amber warning covering much of Mid Cheshire.

In response, the Northwich town centre emergncy plan has now been activated, councillor Andrew Cooper has confirmed.

"The good news is that we're well-prepared for this and an awful lot has been learned since the last flood in January 2021," he said.

"The pumping capacity that's in place would be enough to fill the Memorial Court swimming pool in 15 minutes, so we're in a far better position."

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Councillor Cooper explained that as of 3pm today (October 20) Northwich was in phase one of the plan.

As part of this, United Utilities have deployed the large pumps to the Barons Quay and Dock Road pumping stations which will be used, if needed, to get water out of the drains.

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service are all on-site at Waitrose.

There is a lane closure in place on London Road by Waitrose to protect the pipework for the pumps.

In addition, the Enivronment Agency has begun to deploy the demountable flood defences around Northwich Quay and mobile pumps have been set up at several other strategic locations around the town centre. 

Phase two is expected to commence overnight, which will see flood defences fully deployed.