If the part that the Senegalese residents of Almuñécar played in the part of the September 2007 flood was already forgotten, as reported, two years later, then imagine today.

The town had had a lucky escape, believe it or not, because had the flood water come rushing down 20 minutes earlier, it would have taken dozens of schoolchildren into the Roman aqueduct pit, that was brimming with water, mud topped off with a carpet of flotsam – there was no chance of surviving that.

But even while the shocked inhabitants were standing around perusing the damage, the Senegalese lads simply picked up tools and began clearing mud from the roads and streets, seeking no recompense…

Have a thought for this community next time you ignore them when they come to your table hawking baubles and pirated DVDs.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)