Bradford Council explains why Shipley was flooded by storm

The huge downpour hit Shipley, Otley Road, Canal Road and Valley Road mostly, at around 5pm on Thursday.

The weather managed to crack roads which led to major traffic delays as people attempted to return from work.

Traffic built on Otley Road yesterday afternoon

When the Telegraph & Argus visited the Shipley town centre on Friday afternoon, a large crack in the road was still causing problems for drivers.

The crack, which caused the tarmac to bulge, appeared on Otley Road at the junction with Kirkgate.

Vehicles travelling from Bradford on the road were waiting in long queues to get through Shipley as two out of the three lanes were coned off.

There were delays on Valley Road too

Bradford Council says the water produced from the rain "overwhelmed" the drainage system and there is only "minor" damage to the roads.

A spokesperson said: “Flash flooding occurred in parts of Bradford and Shipley on Thursday as a result of some very heavy rains in the afternoon.

Cars were plunged in water

“The high water volumes quickly overwhelmed the drainage system which eventually cleared the flooding indicating there are unlikely to be any major blockages in the system. 

“There has been some minor damage to the roads and we are running repair and clean-up operations working alongside Yorkshire Water and other community partners.”

Otley Road suffered the most from the flooding

Meanwhile, on the night, Yorkshire Water apologised for the disruption caused and said they were doing all they could to find a resolution.

A spokesperson said: "We appreciate the disruption this incident is causing to people in the area, and apologise for any inconvenience.

"We are working with partners to promptly find the cause and resolve it as soon as we can."

One cyclist tried to carry on

Angela Tait, a Royds ward councillor who is a member of the Bradford Dragon Boat Festival committee, said the heavy rain hit when some people were setting up for the festival.

"It was lovely over in Low Moor where I live," she said.

"There were some people setting up the festival, but we had left by then before we got stuck in it.

The huge puddle at the Bradford Dragon Boat Festival

"I didn't expect it to be so bad. I just thought there would be a few showers.

"There was a big puddle near the main Dragon Boat Festival tent. I didn't know if I would need my wellies for the festival today."

People living and working in the town and the surrounding area could not believe what they were seeing.

"The flooding was flowing down the road last night," said an onlooker at the Noble Comb pub on Salts Mill Road.

A Shipley resident added: "I wasn't out in the rain, but I saw pictures of the flooding. I was surprised by the amount of rain."

One video, captured by Michael Robinson at the junction of Valley Road, Shipley Fields Road and Poplar Road, shows vehicles submerged in metres of water.

It is understood police were forced to close roads in the area at around 6.15pm.

The roads around Foster Square Retail Park, Manningham Lane and Lister Park were gridlocked between 5.30 and 6.30pm as drivers struggled during rush hour.

It took one reader 90 minutes to get back to his Saltaire home after finishing work in East Bowling.

Another cracked road on Thursday evening. Picture: Michael Robinson

The fire service did send one pump to Otley Road at around 5pm before then passing on the incident to Yorkshire Water and Bradford Council.

A spokesperson said they were told the Council were going to send out their Highways team to deal with the matter.

Our readers also got in touch via social media and recalled their experiences of the shock flooding on Thursday evening.

Lesley Smith said: "I was surprised when a friend posted footage of flooding near Baildon Bridge. It was lashing it down while she was in her car parked on her drive in Wrose, at teatime. She could not get out and into her house for over half an hour. While here in Bingley, it was lovely and sunny, with no sign of rain, not until a light shower about 8.30pm."

The flooding came out of nowhere

Donna Harrison added: "I drove from Shipley in an absolute downpour and by the time I got to Cottingley there was not one drop."

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