The major incident in Laxey appears to be over - but now the big clean-up begins.Emergency services have worked to divert floodwater back into the river at lower Laxey.In the days before the heavy rainfall, contractors had been working on a weir in the river near Laxey Woollen Mills and a hole had been made in the wall to allow a digger access.

About 70 yards further down five or six fallen trees had been swept down the river and dammed a disused sluice gate. The weight of the water brought down the wall at a second spot.

Emergency services then made a decision to breach the wall in a third place so that floodwater on the road could be diverted back into the river.

Sergeant Andy Reed explained: ’We’ve had a breach in the wall that has been made by contractors that were doing a weir in the river.

’Obviously, that has allowed water to flow down the road. After that we’ve had five or six trees that have rushed down the river and collided with the disused sluice gates and dammed the river.

’The weight of the water had brought down the wall. That created the big flood and put people’s houses at risk.

’We’ve reacted to that with the fire service and coastguard and breached the wall and allowed the water to go back down the river. That’s how we’ve lowered the level of the water.’The Department of Infrastructure posted just after 2pm: 'The major incident has now been stood down but clean-up, road sweeps and repair work continue.'