A YOUNG salon owner has been left devastated after a “torrent” of water flooded out her premises.

Alison Howell, 25, runs Passion For Hair on Brook Street, Wrexham but now fears for the future of her business after torrential rain caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Alison, who has had the shop since March 2009, said: “It started at about 1pm because a drain was blocked and then about 5pm we had a huge downpour. It was like a torrent of water.

“It got so bad we couldn’t stop it coming in the shop. It was about six inches deep. I was crying.”

Alison, who lives in Kingsmills and has a three-year-old daughter, Lily, said the water flooded the whole floor, including the kitchen and toilet.

She said the flooring, reception desk, sofa and many other fittings would need to be replaced because of water damage.

It could take about two weeks to fix all the damage, which could cost thousands to put right.

She said: “It is a worry because I will have to cancel my clients for a couple of weeks.

“I’m hoping to be up and running as soon as I can, so I hope people will come back to me.

“I work hard and it’s taken me a long time to get the business sorted.”

Mum Sue Howell rushed to help Alison as the flooding began.

Sue said: “It’s awful. You don’t know what to do.

“At the time Alison just couldn’t stop crying.

“We were walking around and the water was up past our ankles."

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service received more than 30 calls on Tuesday to reports of flooding – the majority from the Wrexham area.

The calls started at 12.41pm and the last call was at 11.15pm.

One of the worst affected areas was Warrenwood Road in Wrexham where three fire engines and the environmental protection unit were needed to pump out four houses affected.

Residents Terry and Maureen Booth said the floods had seeped into their hall, dining room and conservatory.

Terry said there was about 12 inches of water. “It was like a river,” he added.

“We had to put sandbags out at the front and back.

“There were about eight firemen pumping the water. We are just thankful they were here or it could have been a lot worse.”

Another neighbour said the floods had left residents “absolutely shocked”.

Penny Cook, a mum who also lives in the road, said: “It soaked my hall and study. The whole road was completely flooded.”

In Hampshire Drive, Wrexham some residents had their garages flooded.

Patricia and John Cox said the water had penetrated through to their porch, while there fish pond had overflowed.

The fire service said the majority of the calls came in from the town centre, Llay and Johnstown areas.