Heavy rainfall throughout the day saw residents anxiously watching river levels, as fears of a flood similar to the deluge of October 2005 also began to rise.

However, on this occasion the town was spared, but before the water began to recede, the River Teviot burst its banks at Lower Mansfield Road and flooded Albert Park.

A series of warning calls from Scottish Borders Council's floodline were sent out to those registered residents throughout the day, and this included a call to chairman of the fledgling Hawick Flood Group, Stuart Marshall, informing him by 3.30pm that the town was at risk and it was time to swing into action.



Chairman and councillor Marshall commented: "SBC's emergency planning officer had kept me well-informed each hour of the situation up at Teviothead where the river is monitored. But it was the call I didn't want when I was told it was time, which led to members of our group visiting those we prioritised to be most at risk. And we had three people down at Mansfield distributing the new flood sacks."

Mr Marshall went on: "We were also able to tell worried residents to keep an eye on the new markers attached to the bridges. However, thankfully, by 7pm I got the call to say that the group could stand down, as the levels dropped."

This was the first time that the group – which comprises 10 area co-ordinators – had been called into action.

And it occurred before the group had been able to operate a 'dry run', which as a result, Mr Marshall says highlighted their weaknesses. He added: "This was a close call, but it showed that we have a lot of lessons to be learned. The group certainly needs more volunteers as contacting members proved a problem, and in general we need to work on our communication and coordination."

However, praise has been heaped on the group by Trinity Bar proprietor Brian Cureton, who had been forced to close the pub for a year following the flood of 2005.

He stated: "We were more than impressed with the help given us to by the Flood Group and Stuart Marshall. He couldn't do enough to help us during the afternoon, and kept us informed throughout."

He added: "Sitting next to the river watching it get higher and praying for it to stop makes you feel as though you are under attack, and your hands are tied behind your back. Just to feel someone is there to help you makes all the difference."

Anyone interested in becoming a Flood Group volunteer should contact Stuart Marshall on 378817.