Manchester hotel gets 'beach' after floods
All Manchester needs is a beach, said Ian Brown. And now it has one outside the Lowry Hotel. #floods#irwell#fbpic.twitter.com/hwIVxdeWzq
— andy spinoza (@andyspin) December 27, 2015
A makeshift 'sandy beach' has been created next to a five-star hotel in Manchester after the River Irwell burst its banks.
Sand and debris has covered the plaza at the back of the Lowry Hotel in Salford, which has seen a host of top stars through its doors.
Lady Gaga, Pharrell Williams, One Direction, Bono and Muhammad Ali have all stayed at the celebrity hotspot.
See also: Giant hole opens up on busy road in Manchester
See also: Naked stranger climbs into guest's bed at plush Manchester hotel
Hundreds of homes close to the Irwell were evacuated but a hotel spokesman told the Manchester Evening News that it was not damaged.
Helen Hipkiss, PR and marketing manager for The Lowry Hotel, said: "The hotel was not affected at all as it's built quite a bit higher than the river level."
Pictures on Twitter showed the plaza completely under water before the sand washed up and after.
Flooding in Manchester city centre outside The Lowry (via Mark Payne) Blimey! pic.twitter.com/DigSh97qzp
— Mcr Confidential (@mcrconfidential) December 26, 2015
City centre flooding leaves a 'beach' outside Lowry Hotel https://t.co/tbkOMlJS2k
— Your Pc Wizard (@YourPcWizard0) December 27, 2015
Flooding has caused chaos in many parts of northern England, with water damage leaving some areas vulnerable to sinkholes.
According to the Mirror, a 10ft sinkhole has opened up outside a school after flooding cut off a Yorkshire village.
Rivers in Manchester, York and Leeds have burst their banks, leaving properties under water.
The government has sent 500 troops to help rescue efforts in flood-hit parts of England, reports the Daily Mail.