Maria left in tears after bride shop deluge (From Your Local Guardian)

Maria left in tears after bride shop deluge

3:50pm Wednesday 25th July 2007 in News

A Battersea bridal shop is counting the cost of being submerged under several feet of flood water on Friday.

"It was a disaster," said Teokath owner Maria Sotiriou. "I was in tears when I saw what had happened."

The downstairs room of Mrs Sotiriou's Falcon Road shop was under three feet of water, ruining a third of her stock at a cost of about £15,000.

"I rushed to my shop as soon as possible, but my husband was there first and kept saying you can't come, it's too dangerous'.

"When I got there, we couldn't even open the door at first. Water was everywhere. Every time a bus went past, more water rushed in under the door.

"Everything was so dirty, and I've still got things soaking. It could have been worse, though. I managed to rescue some. Plus, my expensive gowns were upstairs. It could have cost £100,000."

But, despite all the damage, Mrs Sotiriou, with the help of her family, worked through the night and opened for business on Saturday.

"We worked very hard to open," she added. "I can't let the brides down. How can you tell them you can't come in'."

Further down Falcon Road, a bookmakers was also struggling to cope with the clean-up.

"I have lived in this area for 11 years and never seen anything like it," said Winstanley estate resident and Metrobet branch manager Elizabeth Fornigo.

"The rain just kept rising and rising. Every car that went past sent a wave across the road.

"The pavements even came up. It was ridiculous," added the 23-year-old.

She estimated that the damage would cost her firm at least £5,000 in repairs before even considering the loss of trade.