Traffic was brought to a standstill as motorists tried to avoid the trouble spots. Schools and nurseries sent children home early as the rain continued to come down until just after lunchtime. Offices, shops and factories also sent some workers home.
One of the worst hit areas was in the town centre where the fast-flowing River Calder burst its banks in several places. The area around Briggate and Mill Royd Street was under two feet of water and several motorists were forced to abandon their vehicles.
Tempers frayed at one stage as cars threatened to block one of the main arteries through the town centre.
Further along the River Calder, the Old Mill pub and restaurant became engulfed in a torrent of water as the river burst through in several places.
The rain returned later in the day but the forecast is for a better day tomorrow.
Due to severe weather and flooding a number of services have been affected in Calderdale.

The A646 Halifax Road has been closed between the turning circle for Heptonstall in Hebden Bridge and Todmorden Town Hall. Along the same stretch of road a HGV has crashed through the wall adjacent to the River Calder and is causing an obstruction. A diversion is in place.

Train services throughout Calderdale have been affected. Contact Metro on 0113 245 7676 for further information.

A number of schools have been closed including, Riverside Junior Schol, Hebden Bridge, Old Town Primary School, Hebden Bridge, Heptonstall Junior and Infant School, Central Street Infant School, Hebden Bridge, Burnley Road Junior and Infant School, Mytholmroyd, Woodbank School, Luddenden Foot, and Shelf Junior and Infant School. For further information on specific schools contact the schools directly or listen to Radio Leeds. Calderdale Council's website will be update regularly with further information.

Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and Walsden Libraries are all closed.

Call Floodline on 0845 988 1188 24 hours a day for flood warnings and advice. To report problems resulting from the flooding call 0845 245 7000. If you feel you are in serious danger you should contact the Emergency Services. If you think flooding is being caused by a blocked sewer contact Yorkshire Water 0845 1242 429

There are a few simple ways to protect your home from flooding including:

Gas, electricity and water
• Put plugs into sinks and weigh them down with something heavy
• Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies at the mains. Find out where these are well in advance of any flood
• Unplug all electrical items and store upstairs or as high up as possible
Reduce flood water getting into your home
• Silicone sealant - open doors and windows, smear a layer of this around the frame, then shut and lock the door/window.
• Ideally, cover doors, windows and airbricks with plywood, sandbags or metal sheeting. Download our guide, below, for detailed instructions
Furniture and appliances
• Move as much furniture and electrical items as you can upstairs. Alternatively raise them up on bricks or blocks - this may be very helpful for large appliances such as fridge/freezers
• Move furniture away from walls, as this helps when drying your property later
• If you can, roll up carpets and rugs and put them upstairs
• If there is no time to remove curtains, hang them up over the rail so they are kept above flood water
• Leave internal doors open, or ideally, remove them and store them upstairs
Personal Items
• You cannot replace sentimental items. Think about permanently moving these upstairs, so you do not forget to move them in the case of a flood
• Keep important personal documents in a sealed bag, and in a location safe from floodwater
Outside the house
• Move anything not fixed down into a safer location, e.g. dustbins, garden chemicals car oil and similar
• Move your car to higher ground to avoid damage
• Weigh down manhole covers outside the house to prevent them floating away and leaving a hazardous hole
Information provided by the Environment Agency

Further information is available on the Environment Agency website www.environment-agency.gov.uk

For further information about the effect of flooding on Council Services log on to www.calderdale.gov.uk or listen to Radio Leeds for the latest updates.