A MAN who waded through waist-high flood water to save an elderly man from his stranded car has been hailed as a hero.

Stewart Ottley from Askam was on his way to work yesterday morning when he came across an unusual sight at Duddon Bridge.

While he waited at the traffic lights, he saw to the road on his right brake lights flashing and decided to investigate.

He said: "I was about four cars back from the traffic lights and could see brake lights going on and off and I thought they were in the floodwater.

"I saw the reverse lights and I knew someone must be in the car."

Mr Ottley quickly got out of his car, pulled on his waders, and carefully made his way towards the isolated car.

On arrival he found a man, believed to be in his 70s, sitting in his car and staring at his phone.

Mr Ottley said: "The water was up to the chair so it was right up to his waist but he was just sitting there.

"I asked him to wind the window down and asked him what he was going to do.

"He said he was just going to wait for the water to go down."

Mr Ottley explained to the gentleman, called Ray, that the water was only going to get higher and he had to get out.

After battling against the pressure of the water, Mr Ottley finally managed to free the man and lead him back to his car before driving him home to Broughton.

Firefighter Ian Westall, who was at the scene, praised the efforts of Mr Ottley but urged members of the public to be cautious in situations such as these.

He said: "It's fantastic that we have members of the community who are in a position to rescue someone. I think it's fantastic but people should always err on the side of caution.

"The time I got there the car had moved 10 or 15 metres just because of the weight of the water.

"You can't take chances with water but if this gentleman hadn't have been rescued it would have been a very different story."

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People across the area did their best to help in the crisis with whole communities coming together to keep the floodwater at bay.

David Scott, owner of Bootle Stores, spent yesterday morning helping friends and neighbours try to protect homes from further damage.

He said: "Bootle has never flooded like this in the 35 years I've been here. I've seen a bit of flooding about but never like this. I've never known that road to flood."

As rain continued to fall throughout the night, rivers and brooks were put under pressure and finally gave way yesterday morning.

Mr Scott, 62, said: "I got here at 8.30am and by 9.30am the water had risen about two foot.

"If the high tide was at 10 this morning I would hate to think what it could have been like."

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Residents in Ulverston were also hit by the heavy rain, with some properties being evacuated.

Councillor Andrew Butcher, of Ulverston Town Council, said the flood defence behind North Lonsdale Road was just inches away from being breached yesterday.

Cllr Butcher, who lives in North Lonsdale Road, said: "It filled up in an hour and a half.

"I'm wondering if the work the Environment Agency has done in the town has put more pressure onto South Ulverston.

"We have had the Environment Agency down. They have done a visual assessment and it's not good at all."