A LEAKING water tank brought the ceiling down at Mel Hurrell’s hair salon in Cinderford – but thanks to local people she was back in business within 48 hours.

The flood meant that Mel’s Top Cutz in The Triangle would be out of action for at least two months and possibly longer.

But locals rallied around and Mel was soon up and running again at a former internet café further down Market Street.

Mel was alerted to the flood at around 4pm on Sunday, February 4, and rushed over to the salon she has run for some eight years.

“Water was pouring through the roof,” she said, “there had been a burst pipe from the water tank on the main roof.

“By the time I had got down from the shop next door, the ceiling in my roof had come down.

“I was told I wouldn’t be trading from there for a good few weeks and probably two months at least.

“We rang around town on Monday trying to find premises and by 3pm we had the keys.

“Family and friends helped us carry our stuff down from 3pm to 6pm and the plumber arrived on Tuesday morning and we were good to go.

“The community spirit has been great – everyone rallied around and helped us out.

“I put something out on social media and people turned up – friends, family, the guys from Royal Mail.

“Ross (Carpenter of R&L Plumbing) was a superhero.

“We’ve been told we can have the shop on a month-to-month basis until we can go back,” she added.

“The guy from Macleans offered to put our stuff in his basement, although we had never even met him before.

“I want to acknowledge this community spirit and how everyone rallied around to make it happen, it’s amazing.”