A community centre badly damaged by flooding will receive a helping hand from a South Harrow school.

The Pinner Hill Communal Hall, on Pinner Hill Road, doubled up as a polling station for the EU referendum on Thursday night.

But once voters had battled through the torrential rain to make it to the centre, they were faced with deep groundwater to cross before they could register their decision.

Debbie Steers has volunteered at the centre for more than a decade and was there the evening of the flooding.

“People were wading in to vote – it was absolutely full of water. People were almost having to paddle in,” she said.

“Harrow Council sent in a caretaker to help mop up the water but he was fighting a losing battle.”

On Friday morning, once the waters had cleared, the centre remained in a state of disrepair, with much of the equipment used by the resident youth and community clubs left badly damaged.

“The council is dealing with the building itself but all of our equipment has been destroyed – we won’t be open again for two to four weeks,” added Mrs Steers.

“We’ve lost all the toys, the games tables, the pool table, air hockey – it’s going to cost about £1,000 to replace.”

Several children who attend the centre’s youth club are also pupils at the nearby Pinner Wood School, and one suggested holding a non-uniform day to help the stricken hall.

Head teacher Debs Spruce agreed, and said children could each pay a pound to wear their own clothes on July 8, with all proceeds going to the centre.

“A lot of our children go to the youth club there,” she said.

“It’s got a really close connection with our school so we are happy to help out.”

Mrs Steers said the centre was an important part of the local community for young and old alike.

“There’s nothing really up this end except for the social clubs where you can go to get a drink,” she said.

“It keeps the elderly involved and keeps children off the streets.”