A COUPLE whose flat was ruined after a sprinkler was set off accidentally have spoken of their restoration efforts.

Last week the Leader reported how North Wales Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to a sprinkler system activation at Castle Heights in Flint, which had been caused by a resident who was decorating.

John Lloyd, 67, said he had been using a steamer on an opposite wall from the device when it unexpectedly went off, knocking him to the floor and causing serious water damage to his home, as well as other flats below.

He and his wife Diane, who were offered temporary accommodation by Flintshire Council following the incident, continue in their efforts to return their home to normal this week.

Mrs Lloyd, a nurse at Wrexham Maelor's special care baby unit, said: "The floors are dry and the insurance people are coming.

"We have moved back in and we're continuing to tidy up so we're plodding on and getting there slowly.

"I've had some time off to help make it more liveable for us but I am going back to work now.

"It has really knocked John - emotionally he is very drained with it. It is going to take us a few months but we'll get there."

Describing the incident, Mr Lloyd told the Leader last week: "I was nowhere near the sprinkler with the steamer, but it went off and the water hit me on the back of the head - it knocked me down the hallway.

"I was just panicking because I couldn't see a thing and I was thinking about the people below.

"I phoned the fire brigade and it felt like hours but they were here within ten minutes - I can't praise them enough."

Mr and Mrs Lloyd also praised Flintshire Council for its quick response in providing them somewhere to stay.