EIGHTEEN Purley residents are currently holed up at Croydon Council's new HQ, after evacuating their flood-threatened homes.
Croydon Council confirmed it transported the people to the centre of town earlier today (Tuesday) from their homes in Dale Road.
The 18 are a mixture of residents and inhabitants of a care home for people with learning difficulties.
A council spokesman said: "Residents from a block of flats and a private care home in Dale Road in Purley have this morning evacuated with the help of the council and the London Fire Brigade. This was a precautionary measure owing to water overflowing from the nearby Bourne river.
"The council and the Red Cross have provided buses and helped 18 people to a temporary rest centre in the council's civic offices."
The spokesman added: "This was a small-scale evacuation which went ahead very smoothly thanks to the help of the Fire Brigade and the Red Cross.
"Our staff have been working around the clock to provide information and assistance to anyone who needs it."
