Hundreds of shoppers and staff were advised to stay inside the Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield last week (November 7) – with “dozens” reportedly having to spend the night – after flooding in the surrounding area caused gridlocked traffic.

The shopping centre officially closed at 6.30pm, but a number of customers and staff, including at Boots' flagship branch in the shopping centre – which opened in September – were unable to leave, “due to concerns about the flooding”, the multiple told C+D yesterday (November 14).

“[Staff] were still in high spirits and offered local hotels,” Boots said.

Pharmacists Raghu Mamindla, Cher Chua and Jessica Lolli were left in the branch, waiting for updates from the emergency services on when to leave the shopping centre.

“Despite many of us not knowing how and when we would be able to get home, we kept the pharmacy open as [long] as possible and supplied medicines to patients as emergency supply,” Mr Mamindla told C+D.

“On that day, I’m surprised how many customers who got stuck in Meadowhall came for an emergency supply of inhalers, antidiabetics and blood pressure medication,” he added.

While the shopping centre and branch were open as normal the following day, the Boots Meadowhall team feel “very proud” to have been able to help patients during a time of uncertainty, Mr Mamindla said.

“We didn't want to let the patients down.”

Hundreds of flood alerts remain active across the country.