A FAMILY'S childcare business is back up and running just weeks after being devastated by floods, thanks to the generosity of local residents.

Charlotte and Dominic Melia's home and work lives were devastated by the Boxing Day floods, with their home in Parkside Close among the worst hit.

As well as forcing the couple and their two children, Jack and Lily, out of their home and into rented accommodation in Radcliffe New Road, the floods also destroyed all of the toys and equipment used for their Woodlands Childcare Service.

But after organisers at the volunteer hub set up to help flood victims heard about their plight, they offered to provide the family with all the toys they needed after being inundated with donations.

Mrs Melia, aged 42, said: "They have donated all of the toys and equipment we need to run the business within days of us being flooded out.

"The water was up to waist height in our house, so we lost everything. We work downstairs so all of the business stuff and the children's equipment was totally ruined.

"On top of that, we lost things like our washer, the dryer, fridges, freezers. We couldn't save anything at all and had to start again from scratch.

"The volunteer centre have been absolutely brilliant with us. There was someone going around our street giving out the details of the crisis centre, so I went down there and gave them my details.

"At the point when they realised we had a childcare business they basically said that we could go in and claim whatever we needed to get back on our feet.

"We got toys, highchairs, and all of the basic equipment that we needed to start again."

The business has been running for seven years and caters for an average of 10 children every day, so Mrs Melia says it was a relief to be back to work on Monday.

She added: "It's such a big help because it means that we can get back to working quicker than we thought we would, and all of the families who we work with can get back into their usual routine too.

"We never expected that we would be able to turn things around so quickly. We have lived in Parkside Close for 17 years and we have never seen anything like this at all.

"We've been told that it will be six to 12 months before we are able to go back. Hopefully we can get back to normal soon."