Flood misery for Ottery’s twin town

Chain of events are uncannily similar to those in Ottery in 2008

RESIDENTS of Ottery’s twin town in Germany have vowed to visit their friends in East Devon despite being hit by flood chaos.

Ilsfeld suffered devastation after a freak hailstorm saw homes, cellars and gardens swamped in water - a chain of events uncannily similar to those that stuck Ottery in October 2008

Town Twinning Association members say their German pals had no choice to delay a planned visit, but friendships will be renewed when they jet in for a weekend on September 1.

“Many pictures have been seen of the devastation caused to house cellars and gardens of some of those expected in Ottery,” said Twinner Keith Spittlehouse.

Planned activities for the visit include a boat cruise from Exmouth and a civic dinner at Otter Nurseries. Ottery twinners will support the first flower festival at West Hill’s church in 25 years next month and will stage a service, part in German, in Ottery Parish Church on Sunday, September 4.