Drinkers lend a hand as licensees mop up eighth flood

Unlucky licensees Bill Plumbe and Gloria Williams from the Sweet Home Inn in Poole, Dorset, have been mopping up after their eighth flood in just two years.

The couple's bad luck reared its head once more, two weeks ago when burglars broke into the pub and stole money from the fruit machine.

Despite the break in, they decided to open as usual that evening, for musical entertainment provided by a live singer.

But as the crowds were dancing, disaster struck once again because of heavy rain. Water began gushing into the pub through the doors, seeping into the toilets, behind the bar, into the cellar and the office.

Within minutes customers were wading in three inches of water but instead of rushing home to dry off, the locals grabbed mops, buckets, sponges and cardboard to help ease the deluge.

Others went outside to open manhole covers and drains in the car park to stop the flow of water.

The singer even jumped on a table to continue his act, in an attempt to revive the party atmosphere.

Fire crews equipped with a pump provided their support and by 3am the pub was almost puddle-free.

"I cannot believe how brilliant the public were," said Ms Williams. "They were all soaked to the skin but they didn't care."

Just two weeks before the most recent deluge, the inn suffered a similar flood, as bad weather swept over Dorset.

Brewer Hall & Woodhouse is now investigating the problem and, despite having to close part of the pub, the couple are adamant it will be business as usual.