Chief Minister to cut UK trip short, following flooding

The Island's Chief Minister is to cut a trip to the UK short following devastating flooding. 

Howard Quayle is currently visiting the Conservative party conference in Manchester, and will now return earlier than planned - first thing tomorrow morning.

He'll then visit Laxey to survey the scene, and speak to residents. 

Following torrential rainfall overnight and this morning Emergency services provided a front-line response - evacuating of a number of residents in Laxey, who were unable to leave their homes.

A major incident was declared in the town after the river broke its banks - with no safe access to the village by sea or road for a time, a UK Coastguard helicopter was sent to the scene and remained on stand-by for several hours.