Bewdley: Homes flooded and residents in tears as barriers breached in Worcestershire town
Bewdley in Worcestershire, which was hit by severe flooding last February, saw its temporary flood barrier overwhelmed overnight.
Sunday 24 January 2021 05:20, UK
Homes have been flooded and residents left in tears after defence barriers were breached in a town previously devastated by flooding last year.
Bewdley in Worcestershire, which was hit by severe flooding last February, saw its temporary flood barrier overwhelmed overnight.
Fire and rescue services have been out in boats helping people stuck in their properties.
The Environment Agency (EA) said there had been "exceptionally high river levels" following days of heavy rainfall in the wake of Storm Christoph.
Dan Madden, who lives in Bewdley, broke down in tears after his home was flooded for a second time in two years.
"I'm gutted to be honest," he told Sky News.
"It took me years and years to buy a house and I buy one in the town I love and it's flooded twice in two years.
"I just hope Boris gets the permanent barrier done.
"Stress levels are through the roof. We'll have nowhere to live for three or four months while they fix it."
Lindsay Wilson, who founded the Bewdley Flood Defence Committee, said a property she owns had to be evacuated at about 10pm on Friday and the tenant has been left homeless.
"It's taken me about 11 months to get the property back to a liveable, habitable state after last February's floods," she said.
Ms Wilson said the flood defence barrier had "collapsed under the strain".
"They are obviously not adequate enough to hold back the waters today," she added.
Ms Wilson said she met Boris Johnson after the flooding in Bewdley last year and had a direct message for the prime minister.
"If Mr Johnson is watching now, please could you get things moving," she said.
"I don't think we could stand much more of the devastation that goes on."
Clare Dennis, the EA's area director for the West Midlands, warned the River Severn "is still rising" but said Bewdley's other flood defences appeared intact.
Across England, there are more than 90 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required, with a similar number of less serious flood alerts in place.
In Wales, local authorities will offer payments of up to £1,000 per household to support those affected by flooding, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.
This weekend the wet conditions will be replaced by freezing temperatures.
Met Office chief forecaster Steve Willington said cold air from Iceland and the Arctic will bring with it "a mix of wintry hazards across the UK".
He said: "In clearer conditions, overnight ice will remain a hazard, while a band of snow is likely to bring falls of 1-3cm quite widely across central areas of the UK, particularly the Cotswolds and higher ground in the East Midlands on Sunday.
"But snow outside these areas is also a potential hazard."