Mum’s horror as baby is trapped inside sinking car before hero dad pulls tot to safety in Storm Bert floodwater

A MUM has told of the horrifying moment her 11-month-old baby became trapped inside a car sinking in raging floodwaters.

Storm Bert nearly claimed another life as it wreaked havoc across the UK yesterday with 82mph winds, heavy snow and flooding.

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Hero dad, Andre Randles, had to rescue his baby son when his Volkswagen hatchback became submerged in Todmorden, West Yorkshire.

The tot's terrified mum, Paige Newsome, wrote on social media: "[It was] such a scary experience for Andre having to pull himself and our 11-month-old baby out of the car windows, whilst the water was flooding into the car."

She also criticised the council as the road has reportedly been a danger area for years whenever there is heavy rain.

"Calderdale Council need to sort this out ASAP! They have been getting notified about this part of Woodhouse Road multiple times by the owners of the house next to where our car is parked," she fumed.

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The dad found himself in difficulty after driving into the water thinking it was shallow.

He discovered a concealed dip in the road that pulled his car under, sparking a race against time to scramble out.

Shocking photographs revealed floodwater reaching the vehicle's roof as it sank.

After pulling his baby out of a window, the builder was taken in by a local resident who helped keep them safe from Storm Bert.

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But the nightmare still haunts Paige, and she added: "You never know what could have happened. 

"Just imagine if my partner didn’t think fast enough to get the windows open to climb out and then get my son out. I dread to think."

A flood warning, and siren, had been issued in Todmorden, on Saturday.

Floodgates were also opened to help manage river levels. 

Calderdale Council said yesterday: "Please drive carefully as there is still surface water and debris on many roads.

"Only make essential journeys. Stay safe."

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Labour MP for Calder Valley Josh Fenton-Glynn said the flooding was sparked by snow melting and heavy rain.

He said: "We are at the frontline of climate shocks here in Calder Valley.

"Rest assured I will continue to raise the issues we face with flooding at the highest levels of government."

Calderdale Council was contacted for comment.

More than 200 flood alerts are now in place for England, Wales and Scotland.

Met Office yellow weather warnings for rain and wind covering large swathes of the country are in place today.

As the Atlantic brings warmer temperatures, snow that covered the north of England and much of Scotland yesterday has begun to melt.

This has sparked 66 red flood warnings in England, meaning flooding is expected and residents and business owners should "act now", according to the Environment Agency (EA).

Met Office meteorologists predict Storm Bert will cause "dangerous coastal conditions" and disruption across southern England and parts of Wales until 9pm on Sunday, with a yellow wind warning in place.

Locals in Sion Street, Pontypridd, South Wales, have been hit by serious floodwater overnight and this morning.

Desperate residents have been throwing water out of the front gardens using buckets.

Meanwhile cars on the street have been totally submerged under the flooding after the River Taff burst its banks.

A yellow weather warning for Sunday is also in place across parts of south-east Wales and Herefordshire, which is active until 1pm.

Those affected have been told they can expect flooded roads and power cuts.

"Fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life," the Met Office warning reads.

Torrential rain is set to lash the south-west of England today, and some places over Dartmoor could see 100-150mm of rainfall, the Met Office said.

Meanwhile, travel disruption continues into its second day and ferry operator DFDS has cancelled services on some routes until Monday.

It comes after gales of 82mph were recoded in Capel Curig, north Wales, yesterday and as much as 64.4mm of rain in 12 hours.

Elsewhere, in Wales, five children and five adults had to be rescued from a landslide as 82mph gusts and flash floods battered the UK.

All ten people were rescued from the house in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, near Llangollen in North Wales.

A North Wales Fire and Rescue Services spokesman said they are all being assessed by ambulance services away from the scene "somewhere warm".

A further landslide has been reported in the area but it is understood no one else was affected.

But Storm Bert tragically claimed its first life on Saturday after a tree fell on a car.

A man in his 60s died in Hampshire just before 8.00am after the horror.

Paramedics tragically pronounced him dead at the scene, and his family have been informed.

Have you been affected by Storm Bert? Email [email protected]

Elswhere, families in Belfast were "trapped inside" their homes yesterday as firefighters pumped out flood water, as reported by the BBC.

"The mother of one man I spoke to this morning said her son had woken up and went down to see around two to three feet of water in his home this morning,” a reporter at the scene said.

“The fridge was floating around the kitchen."

In West Yorkshire, a 34-year-old man from Bradford was killed after a car collided with a wall in Shipley.

However, officers are continuing to investigate the cause and it is understood the road was not icy at the time of the incident.

The Met Office issued seven yellow and two amber weather warnings yesterday.

British Gas also warned it was advisable to stock up on food and water as Storm Bert comes into full force.

Rail operators cancelled services on some routes all day on Saturday and urged passengers to check their routes before making journeys.

Train journeys to and from Manchester Piccadilly were disrupted on Saturday evening as flooding between Macclesfield and Stoke-on-Trent blocked some lines.

Thousands of homes were also cut off from power yesterday as strong winds ripped down power lines.

Northern Powergrid said 27,000 customers were affected in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

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In a post on X on Saturday evening, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: "My thoughts are with all those affected by Storm Bert.

"For those who have lost power, my department will be keeping in close touch with the energy companies as they seek to ensure it is restored as swiftly as possible and help those affected."

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