Wroxeter Hotel staff save couple's big day after pipes burst

Gallons of water caused the ceiling of a Shropshire hotel to collapse after extreme weather ruptured water pipes, causing thousands of pounds of damage.

Housekeepers at the Wroxeter Hotel, near Shrewsbury, discovered water gushing into the Eyton Suite at 6.40am on December 27.

Damage was caused to ceilings in the bar and reception and de-humidifiers were brought in to dry out the venue.

Adding to the drama, staff were preparing to host a wedding on New Year's Eve leaving just days to get the venue back up and running.

The news comes as Met Office forecasters today issued a warning of heavy snow to hit the region tomorrow.

Temperatures are likely to remain below 2C (36F) today while a band of snow is expected to move northwards over the region with several centimetres of snow possible tomorrow.

Hotel manager Margot Foster said: "There was gallons of water, the ceiling was down, it was a mess. But there was a wedding to get ready for so we just all leapt into action.

"The hotel staff and everyone who helped us get the venue ready for the couple's big day were simply amazing.

"I am so proud of them and want to thank them all. Everyone worked night and day to fix the venue."

Bosses will now have to fork out for new carpets, but all upcoming functions will go on as planned.

Meanwhile, Tuesday's Cakery, in Wilkinson Walk, Market Drayton, which opened for business just nine months ago, has been forced to shut its doors after a burst water pipe caused about £7,500 of damage to its stock.

Shop owners say that the store will now have to be closed for about four weeks while it is stripped and refurbished.

The water, which also caused damage to neighbouring shops, was discovered on December 28.

Shop owner Nicola Docksey said: "We have only been open about nine months and we are already having to close the shop and strip it out.

"We estimate it is going to cost about £7,500 to get up and running again.

"We are already thinking about the best ways to refit the shop in case anything like this happens again."

By Sam Pinnington