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The Untold: Todmorden Under Water

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25/01/2016

Todmorden Under Water

BBC Radio 4 - The Untold, Todmorden Under Water

Mandy and Paul as they race to protect their home and their dozens of pets from the floods

The Untold follows Mandy and Paul as they race to protect their home and their dozens of pets from the floods in Todmorden, West Yorkshire.

Grace Dent documents the untold dramas of 21st century Britain. 

Boxing Day, 7.30am: flood sirens sounded in Todmorden, West Yorkshire. 

As the waters rose rapidly, Mandy and Paul faced a unique rescue mission. They share their terraced house on the outskirts of Todmorden with their student daughter, her boyfriend, three dogs, four cats and 27 tortoises. 

The Untold follows them as they attempt to meet their first objective: getting one room clear of the water so that they can close the door on the chaos in the house and take stock. 

Sharing this one room with their many pets, they face numerous challenges. The town is cut off, roads are closed, they have elderly relatives in need of care, and a baby tortoise in need of emergency treatment, after it was stepped on in the chaos. Mandy also stands in the road, asking drivers to quell their speed: moving vehicles create waves which add to the water in the house. 

As the rain eases, The Untold finds out how Mandy and Paul try to restore some normality to their world under water. 

Producer Sue Mitchell.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Factual: Life Stories

A series documenting the untold dramas of 21st-century Britain.

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