River levels to 'remain high' as defences in place in region

Work to protect homes and businesses by the River Severn will continue into next week as flood warnings remain.

The Environment Agency (EA) said officers were working around the clock to maintain defences, including in Bewdley and Ironbridge.

Chris Bainger, of the agency, said river levels would "remain high for some time".

Over the weekend, water levels on both the Severn and Wye did not reach the heights predicted by forecasts.

More than 25 flood warnings were in place across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire on Monday evening.

Mr Bainger, a fisheries technical specialist, said river levels peaked at 4.75m (15.5ft) in Bridgnorth in the early hours of Sunday.

"We expect river levels to remain high as we have a prolonged recession so therefore it is advisable to keep up-to-date with our flood warnings and levels," he said.

Craig Jackson, a station manager with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said teams were expecting a second, lower peak in the county.

"Not as high as we have seen but it is still going to be a peak so we are seeing flood water," he said.

"Please do not drive into flood water and please speak to your children about playing in flood water or near flood water and the dangers."

Ally Hunter Blair, who farms land near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire described the flood as "a big one".

"It's in the top 10 floods that we've had and we've got records going back to 1968," he explained.

He said there were about 60 acres of crops that had been under water for 10 days, adding that they were likely to have died.

"We used to lose about one in five crops on this river land and I'd say in the last 20 years it will have been more like one in three," he added.

Gary Edwards, who lives on Beales Corner, in Bewdley, said he had been out of his property for two and half years because of previous flooding.

"I've only been back about three months from the last few floodings. So it is what it is what it is, you choose to live by the river, with a bit of luck everyone's all right," he said.

Temporary flood defences put up in the town will remain in place said the EA.

In Worcester, the level on the River Severn had risen "a lot more than expected," said Barry Gould.

Owner of the river-side Diglis Hotel, he explained the water had not had the "devastating" effect of previous years due to a new pumping system.

But, he said, he feared there may be further floods to come.

"We are concerned really that if it comes back it might have a far worse effect on us."

Nina Williams of the Severn Vue Hotel, also in the city, said she had bought the property knowing of the risk, but never expected to be flooded 10 times in 10 years.

"This year is bad again, we just despair at keep having to clean up and to keep closing the business," she said.

"[It is] really hard on all of us including staff that can't come to work and are losing money also with us not being open."

Several elderly and vulnerable residents were evacuated from their homes on Greyfriars Avenue in Hereford on Saturday evening after warnings the river could peak at 6m.

But it peaked at below 4.8m on Sunday and people were allowed to return home.

Flood warden Colin Taylor said afterwards: "We are pleased it didn't flood but a little frustrated at all the effort yesterday. However, everybody is ok, that's the main thing, lots of tears of relief."

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