A FLOOD campaigner warned Cumbria-style flooding could happen here and urged people to be resilient.

Mary Dhonau said defences along the Severn could only reduce the risk of flooding but could not stop it completely as it emerged that 2,000 homes were kept dry thanks to the barriers.

Storm Desmond lashed the country and managed to breach the defences in Cumbria flooding more than 2,000 homes and businesses.

In Worcestershire, riverbank paths went underwater along the Severn and Wye but around 2,000 properties managed to stay dry thanks to precautions including barriers being put up in Bewdley and the pumps on Hylton Road.

The Severn in Worcester peaked on Saturday morning and water levels have now begun to recede.

However Ms Dhonau, whose home flooded 12 times when she lives in Waverley Street, Worcester, has urged people not to rely on flood defences alone and take precautions.

"What I've always said, and I say this at every presentation I give around the country, is that water could come over the top of flood defences one day which is what happened in Cumbria.

"Cumbria is an example of what could happen here. I feel everyone should be prepared for the fact flood defences just reduce the risk of flooding but it doesn't take it away.

"People often roll their eyes at me and think I am just being a bit alarmist but actually what happened over the weekend has the potential of happening here.

"We should all be aware of that."

Ms Dhonau suggested people fitted their homes with water pumps, tiled floors and putting important documents into water tight plastic bags and placing them, along with other sentimental items, upstairs.

"When people are repairing their homes they want to think about how to make them more resilient to floods.

"One man I met in Gloucestershire had three pumps and also had ceramic tiles up the sides of the walls and stone floors - it still looked lovely but if and when it flooded they were protected.

"He even had a double decker hen house so they could go upstairs and had put the shed and freezer on breeze blocks.

"It's just planning in advance and thinking what people could be lose, including myself, which hold sentimental value.

"Pictures drawn at nursery, sentimental items, things which can't be replaced.

"Also, where would you put the car if it flooded, how would grandma get out of her home.

"People just need to make their homes flood resilient."

For more advice, log on to marydhonau.co.uk

* Worcestershire County Council is seeking people's views on the final consultation on its draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

The consultation is open until Monday, February 29 and the Local Flood Risk Strategy will be formally adopted in July 2016.

Cllr Anthony Blagg, Worcestershire County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for Environment, said: “The draft Strategy sets out the framework for how we want to manage and - where possible - reduce local flood risk. We will do this in partnership with key organisations, including the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water, as well as local communities."

To read the draft Strategy and comment visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/flooding. Comments should be emailed to LFRMSconsultation@worcestershire.gov.uk