Flooding in Morpeth - £5,000 - September 2008

A £5,000 grant has been made to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland to support its efforts to help the residents of Morpeth.  Earlier this month (6/7 September 2008) around 1,000 houses were hit by flooding when the River Wansbeck breached its banks after a month's worth of rain fell in just 24 hours. 

At its peak Morpeth High Street was under 2ft (0.6m) of water and more than 100 people had to be rescued from their homes by boat.  Some residents were forced to spend a night sheltering in the town hall and at a local school.  Families have seen their homes and belongings completely destroyed and, although the flood waters have now subsided, the recovery process for the community as a whole is likely to be a long one.

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland plans to support the Morpeth Flood Appeal, which has set a fundraising target of £100,000 for use in providing assistance to those affected by the flooding.