Most shops re-opened at flood-hit retail centre

Large parts of Parkate Shopping, formerly known as Parkgate Retail World, were flooded to a depth of four feet when the nearby River Don burst its banks.

Shops nearest the river were inundated by floodwater, while those on higher ground which escaped were forced to close because of a power cut lasting several days.

Today centre manager Dennis Copeland said 65 per cent of shops were now open for business with others expected to be open by August Bank Holiday weekend.

But a handful of shops - those most severely damaged which lost all their stock - may not be open again until October.

Staff at the giant Matelan store, one of those worst affected, have been transferred to other branches, including some to Glasgow and Northern Ireland.

“Some of the shops nearest the river had up to four feet of water in them and it has been a long job clearing up,” said Mr Copeland.

“Others, at the opposite side of the complex which are on high ground, were not actually flooded but were forced to remain closed because we lost power.

“However we are expecting most shops to be back open by the end of August. But one or two may be forced to close until October.”