Essex

Bus becomes water taxi for flooded Clacton pensioners

First Essex sends vintage vehicle to rescue senior citizens from flooded homes

PENSIONERS trapped in their bungalows by rising floodwater were rescued Tuesday morning by a vintage First bus.

The Eastern National double-decker is usually only seen on the road at heritage days for enthusiasts " but First Clacton staff sent it out in the storm for some unexpected passengers.

Dozens of people had to be evacuated from their homes as water levels rose to over half a foot. The senior citizens needed to be ferried from their flooded homes in Gorse Lane to the emergency rest centre in Essex Hall, but because of the sheer number of people affected Essex County Council asked First to help with transport.

Steve Hartman, Operations Manager for Colchester, Clacton and Harwich, said: "Staff arriving in work early on Tuesday morning saw the floods in Gorse Lane and firefighters already on the scene.

"Heavy rainfall on already fields already saturated with melting snow had homes being swamped by water draining directly into homes " it was terrible.

"There was no question of doing what we could to help. At that time of the morning all our buses are already out on the road, but although the old Bristol VR doesnt usually operate on normal services, it can easily carry around 74 passengers so we didnt hesitate to send it out.'

Sodden passengers for the special service were surprised to see the water taxi arrive. The vehicle remains in the original green-and-yellow livery from 30 years ago, before the Eastern National Omnibus Company became First.

The historic bus was last seen on the road on New Years Day " when it took to the streets of Southend to run a special free service, as part of Stephensons of Essex new years running day, raising money for Essex Air Ambulance.