Emergency services are working to secure a dam amid fears it could collapse after damage caused by extreme weather.
An evacuation has been launched and members of the public are being warned to stay out of the area around Derbyshire's Toddbrook Reservoir, near Manchester, after officials discovered the damage.
Authorities have told members of the public to "stay away" from the area in case residents and businesses need to be evacuated.
Here's the latest from Ruth George, the MP for High Peak:
URGENT: This is the latest advice from Derbyshire Police re Toddbrook Reservoir and Whaley Bridge.
There is currently no evacuation taking place in Whaley Bridge at this time (as of 1pm today, Thursday 1 August) .
Business owners, and people who are not residents of the area, are being advised to leave to ensure that, should there be a requirement for an evacuation, then this can be done as quickly and safely as possible.
Volunteers are NOT required at the reservoir and we would ask for people to stay away from the area.
There is currently no evacuation taking place in Whaley Bridge at this time (as of 1pm today, Thursday 1 August) .
Business owners, and people who are not residents of the area, are being advised to leave to ensure that, should there be a requirement for an evacuation, then this can be done as quickly and safely as possible.
Volunteers are NOT required at the reservoir and we would ask for people to stay away from the area.
Photos from the scene show fairly spectacular damage to the wall.
Derbyshire Police confirm they are not yet evacuating the area but have asked business owners and non-residents to leave so, should an evacuation be required, it cane be done as quickly as possible:
The fire service is also attending the incident to put road diversions in place. Drivers are being asked to avoid the area:
An evacuation of Whaley Bridge has now been launched. Police have released a statement saying:
"Whaley Bridge is being evacuated due to the ongoing situation at Toddbrook Reservoir.
"If you are being asked to leave your home then please attend Chapel High School, Long Lane, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, SK23 0TQ, where further direction will be given.
"Police officers and staff will be at the school to provide further direction, though at this time we are not sure how long the evacuation will take.
"Residents are asked to make alternative arrangements to stay with friends and family, ensure that any pets are taken with them and that all medication that may be needed for a number of days is taken with them.
"If people do not have somewhere to go then they will be accommodated, however, there is limited capacity to do so.
"If you are unable to leave your own home and require assistance please contact 101 and ask for the police."
"If you are being asked to leave your home then please attend Chapel High School, Long Lane, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, SK23 0TQ, where further direction will be given.
"Police officers and staff will be at the school to provide further direction, though at this time we are not sure how long the evacuation will take.
"Residents are asked to make alternative arrangements to stay with friends and family, ensure that any pets are taken with them and that all medication that may be needed for a number of days is taken with them.
"If people do not have somewhere to go then they will be accommodated, however, there is limited capacity to do so.
"If you are unable to leave your own home and require assistance please contact 101 and ask for the police."
The evacuation announcement came almost simultaneously with the Environment Agency issuing a "severe flood - danger to life" warning - its highest alert.
In a statement, the agency said:
"River levels in the River Goyt could rise rapidly as a result of water coming from Toddbrook Reservoir on 01/08/2019 at 14:00...
"If you believe that you are in immediate danger, please call 999. Please be aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with the current situation, and avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses."
"If you believe that you are in immediate danger, please call 999. Please be aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with the current situation, and avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses."
Derbyshire Police confirm evacuation in new tweet:
Our full breaking story on the evacuation here
More pictures now showing the sheer scale of the damage to the reservoir wall:
From this angle, the damage to the wall actually looks more severe than it had appeared in those first images:
As roads are being closed off, bus services are also being cancelled:
Here's Whaley Bridge, in the context of the surrounding area:
The Independent's northern correspondent, Colin Drury, is on his way down to the scene.
Local residents have been told that the bridge is at "high risk" of collapsing.
Anna Aspinall, 36, from Whaley Bridge, has told PA she and others had been called to help place sandbags in the area around the dam, but were sent away after structural engineers advised "that the wall is at high risk of failing".
"We have had significant rainfall over the past few days resulting in the overflow of the reservoir, which is very rarely breached, being completely flooded over," she said.
"The result is that the overflow this morning has undermining damage and there is a big risk of the village being flooded out. Residents are currently being evacuated along with businesses."
"We are praying (the dam wall) holds whilst the Canal and River Trust try to drain the water from the reservoir. I live at the top of a hill but am very involved in community life, so want to help where I can," she added.
Police have warned that it's not clear how long the evacuation will last, and that people should get ready to be away from their homes for some time:
More rain is still to fall around Whaley Bridge tonight, according to the Met Office:
The town is deserted as police go door-to-door asking people to leave their homes.
Some more video of the dam wall here:
Some more pictures from that deserted town centre:
The Manchester Evening News's Chris Slater has spoken with one of the residents being evacuated this afternoon:
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