Ironbridge faces new challenge of coronavirus after being hit by severe flooding just weeks ago

Normally the streets of Ironbridge in Shropshire would be bustling with tourists enjoying the world heritage site on a sunny day.

But there’s hardly anyone out, and almost every business is closed.

Having suffered the worst flooding in living memory just five weeks ago, no one realised that the next thing they’d face was a global pandemic.

Vic Haddock’s home and holiday let were flooded, and his canoe business can’t operate, but he’s stoic about the challenge of coronavirus.

“I don’t know where my next penny is coming from because my livelihood’s gone,” the retired steelworker said. “Entering a new industry, the leisure industry, and the whole thing is on standstill now isn’t it?

“You know, we’ve spent everything we’ve got… my compensation, I cashed my pension… I suppose I’m a bit deflated but it’s not going to beat me and it shouldn’t beat anyone. We’ve got to fight this altogether.”

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Next door, one of the oldest houses in the town is still drying out after the floods. Dad Rob is working from home on his laptop outside.

“We are concerned because we don’t know what’s going to happen or how bad it’s going to be,” he said.

“With the flooding, at least we knew that the water would recede in a few days or so. We have no idea when COVID-19 will go.”

The family’s replacement kitchen is on hold – it’s on order, but can’t be fitted – so they’re making do with microwave meals.

Mum Debbie said: “It’s balancing the time between home schooling and still having to clean things from the floods because there are still contaminated goods and finding some fun time for Amelia (their daughter). 2020 hasn’t been too fun so far, but we’re doing ok.”

As part of her lesson, their daughter Amelia, 11, has drawn a poster with a rainbow on which reads “everything will be ok”. She’s hung it from the window, and says it’s to “keep people happy”.

In the town, one of the few people we see is a man wearing a face mask and protective gloves going to pick up his mail.

He’s Martin Curry and he explains that he bought Peaky Barbers shop just before the floods hit in February and it’s hardly been open.

“Even the floods now, they’re yesterdays news. Now it’s ‘are we all going to be ok? Is there anything anyone needs?’.

“I think genuinely people are still not taking it seriously enough so businesses like mine, we closed our doors early to make sure we weren’t responsible for the spread of virus.”

He hopes that the town will be open for the much-needed business sooner, if visitors heed the warnings to stay away for now.

(c) Sky News 2020: Ironbridge faces new challenge of coronavirus after being hit by severe flooding just weeks ago