An elderly couple’s “precious home” was ruined by floods just three days after their insurance ran out.
The house of former soldier Bernard Davies, 90, and wife, Lilian, 85, was flooded in the early hours of Sunday morning after Storm Dennis struck.
Bernard received a Good Citizen Award in 2017 and has played Santa Claus in his home town of Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf for 60 years.
Now their granddaughter has set up a 'Bernard and Lil Flood damage' GoFundMe campaign “begging” for help for her nan and grandad.
Kindry Sexton, 28, said of the pair: “You won’t meet a more kind and selfless couple than those two.
“They have had insurance for over 50 years and never made a claim ever and now this happens to them."
The couple's home and two others became inundated with flood water after a nearby culvert became blocked during Storm Dennis.
The elderly couple were asleep upstairs at the time of the flooding and were rescued by neighbours who had to kick the door in to get them out.
They are now being taken care of by family members but are very upset about their ordeal and facing thousands of pounds worth of repairs with no insurance to pay for them.
“Bernard is a real stalwart in the community, he was Father Christmas for 60 years, was in the St Johns Ambulance, physiotherapist for the Rugby team," Kindry continued.
“Up until recently he was collecting £1,000 worth of raffle tickets a week to take down the rugby club.
“They are salt of the earth people so it is horrendous what has happened to them it really is.”
The family is still assessing the damage but were devastated to find out the loving couple had let their home insurance expire just three days before Storm Dennis hit.
It is believed the couple had forgotten it was due for renewal.
The force of the water gushing through their home forced many beloved items out into the street.
But incredibly, Bernard's father's medals from World War One were recovered half a mile away from the house.
Kindry explained: “It was not a continuing policy so of course you tend to go online and shop around for these things when the time comes and this time they did not.
“They are not coping very well at the moment because they always had a routine, so they are sofa surfing at the moment which is a bit sad but we are trying to do our best for them and raise as much money as we can – it could not go to nicer people.”
The fundraiser can be found here.
Fundraising campaigns for flood victims “left with nothing” have been springing up all over the country.
Calderdale Flood Appeal in West Yorkshire has so far raised £311,194 and more than £30,000 has been raised by flood victims in South Yorkshire.
And in South Wales £30,000 was raised in less than 24 hours for those in South Wales battered by severe flooding.
Alex Davies-Jones, the MP for Pontypridd started one which has now raised more than £12,000.
The MP said: “Seeing the floods devastate our communities is truly heartbreaking.
“Homes & businesses across the Pontypridd constituency have been affected by Storm Dennis and we've been inundated with offers of support and help.
“As the MP and AM for Pontypridd we will ensure all monies raised will go to those who need financial assistance to help recover from the storm.”
A fundraising page has been set up by local resident Jamie Thomson for Newcastleton on the Scottish Borders after severe flooding devastated homes and businesses over the weekend.
Flood volunteer Greg Cuthbert described the flooding as "armageddon", with more than 80 homes in the area left underwater.
“It feels like Armageddon, for a village of this size it was total wipeout. One half of the village totally wiped out.
“Your heart goes out to them because there is nothing you can do at this stage. Lots of farmers are going to have to move.
“There's a lot of vulnerable people in the village. I had a 93-year-old couple who refused to leave.
They said 'if I'm going to die, I'll die in my own house. That was their answer 'I'm not leaving'. They're still there yet.”
