A SOCIAL group continues to provide support for flood victims almost four months after Storm Eva hit the borough.

Unprecedented rainfall and power cuts on Boxing Day left more than 300 Bury residents temporarily homeless and led to a big relief effort from Bury Council, the Government, charities and volunteers.

The vast majority of those hit by the floods are now back in their homes, but the need to help people is still there, according to helpers from Radcliffe Road Baptist Church.

April 26 marks four months since the floods, but the weekly social meeting at the church is still going strong, each Wednesday with 10 volunteers pitching in.

"We serve a free meal to everyone who comes and it is a positive environment for people to be able to share their experiences and explain how the floods have impacted on their lives," said church member Maggie King, aged 65, of Bury.

She added: "There are still two families I know who are living in temporary accommodation while repairs are done at their home, at the expense of their insurance companies.

"There is someone else who is still awaiting help with damage to her home, which is a social housing property and people still feel a lot of trauma after the floods.

"Every time it rains, people are on tenterhooks, thinking it will happen again."

Pastor Clive Bullock, of the church, recalled how he and church elders decided to open up the church on Boxing Day for people who had nowhere else to go during the heavy downfalls.

He added: "Calls went round and a small team from the church assembled at the building that afternoon to offer shelter, hot drinks and assistance to local people who had been forced to leave their flooded homes.

"In the days that followed, the church building was opened from noon to 2pm and local people were provided with free lunches and a warm comfortable place to escape for a little while from the upsetting realities of the aftermath of the flood.

"A mini food bank and supplies of bottled water were made available at the church and church members also delivered meals to people who were housebound.

"A few of the church members in particular were outstanding in their compassion and commitment to church neighbours, whose lives had been disrupted in such dramatic and upsetting circumstances."