Tearful Whaley Bridge residents who had to flee their homes amid fears a dam could burst have been told they may not be allowed to return for a week.
Emergency services and the RAF have been working tirelessly to try and prevent Toddbrook Reservoir Dam, in Derbyshire, from bursting.
Thousands were forced to leave their homes without time to collect even their pets or medication after severe flooding damaged the 180-year-old structure.
The Prime Minister visited on Friday afternoon and met a number of families affected by the evacuation at Chapel-en-le-Frith High School, telling them he had flown over the dam twice and it was "dodgy but stable".
Evacuated residents told how they have been allowed back this morning to collect vital items, despite the threat level posed still being deemed as “critical".
Forecasters have warned heavy rain and thunderstorms could hit the affected area again on Sunday, potentially thwarting efforts from emergency services to stop the dam collapse.
Dan Curley, 28, owns pub The Cock in Whaley Bridge and has been back to pick up clothes on Saturday.
He said: "I snuck in the back, they wouldn't let me in this morning.
"I just wanted to get some clean clothes for my little boy and some food for the dog."
He said he had heard he may not be allowed back in for seven days but said the loss in trade at the pub would be covered by insurance.
"I just want to get back to normal now," he added.
Joan Pass, 78, was in tears after she returned to her home in the village to collect belongings.
She said: "We were out within 10 minutes on Thursday.
"The bells were ringing, I didn't know what the bells were ringing for, my daughter said get out, get your passport and your medication.
"I thought it was a bomb."
Tracey Coleman was returning to her home, which is just outside the road closures in the area, on Saturday.
She said when she was told to evacuate on Thursday she and her family took their two dogs, cat, tortoise and the neighbour's dog and went to her mother's house nearby.
She said: "We just took some medication, the animals and a bit of food.
"I think we're on the edge of where is dangerous so we've been able to pop back in the daytime and get showers."
Labour MP for High Peak Ruth George said she had written to the Prime Minister following his visit.
"It's not just about the emergency situation, Whaley Bridge as a town needs to be able to feel safe and we need to know what the options are," she said.
She said residents had been "absolutely brilliant" dealing with the crisis, adding: "We've always had great community spirit but we've got it in spades now."
The MP continued: "We're expecting lots and lots of rain over the next few days so I can quite understand the authorities not being prepared to say it's safe until those storms have gone."
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for much of northern England and the Midlands on Sunday, which includes the area around the reservoir.
It warns there could be damage and disruption from floodwater and lightning strikes.
Environment minister Therese Coffey warned that the Whaley Bridge dam situation is still "critical" as she urged residents not to return home while there is still a threat to life.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think we are still in that critical stage, that's why we still have the severe flood warning.
"They are at risk if they are in that main town and I'm glad that people have responded."
Dr Coffey continued: "I cannot emphasise enough how patient they need to be.
"Of course this is a distressing and worrying time for them, but if that dam were to breach it would lead to a loss of life if there people there. There's no doubt about that."
Mr Johnson promised that the damaged reservoir would have a "major rebuild" as he met locals at nearby Chapel-en-le-Frith High School, which is being used as an evacuation centre.
Describing the damage to the dam as "pretty scary", he said: "The plan is to try and stop the dam breaking, clearly. And so a huge amount of effort is going into that."
Additional reporting by Press Association
