Storm: First person account

I HADN'T heard there was going to be a storm that evening.

To be honest, I didn't even think to check the weather forecast for the day and all I was concerned about was finishing my pilates lesson in Martley so I could get back home for dinner.

But there were a few people in my class saying there was going to be a thunderstorm and looking outside at the sunshine I thought they couldn't be right.

Sure enough, I proved that I will never make a television weather girl because just an hour later, as I drove back home, a big black cloud was descending over the Teme Valley and the looming storm awaited.

Before I even had a chance to get to my house, my wipers were on full pelt and I caught site of my boyfriend frantically sweeping our path to keep rapidly rising rain water out of our front porch.

The sight and sound of the thunder and lightning rolling down the valley was fantastic and so I grabbed my camera to try, but fail, to capture a lightning fork.

By this time, about 8.30pm, the rain was belting down and it was hard to see outside. But I noticed from my window some headlights on the A443 turning and wondered what was stopping them going further.

Curiosity got the better of me, so, armed with a camera, flip flops (I had no idea where my wellies were) and a soon to be very soggy notepad, I ventured out to see what the fuss was about.

One car was already stuck in the rising water and my boyfriend had to help him out of his car and onto dry land. A few large lorries managed to pass through the water, which was around three foot deep. To my amazement, another car tried to take a fast approach to get through, but became unstuck just a few meters in and had to admit defeat and wade out on foot.

By this time, a few of the local residents had also gathered. Our electricity was off, it was still raining hard, and there was no mobile phone signal. We let the two men who had become stuck use our land-line to phone for help but there was very little else we could do. I couldn't even make them a cup of tea to help them warm up as I still had no power.

A policeman from Tenbury arrived, along with a fire engine at around 9pm and it was decided the road would be closed until both cars could be rescued. I had waded in up to knee height to get a few more shots with my camera before being told off by a fireman.

Ashley James, Fire Crew Manager told me: "We are asking motorists to turn back and find another way - or stay where they are until the roads are clear. But we don't know when that will be."

He explained there was a few other parts of the road which were also in trouble with flooding and motorists should not attempt to go through such deep water.

Crews also had to make sure a local business was safe after water rushed through the factory. Much of the machinery is positioned close to the ground and there were fears the electricity points being damaged.

One of the motorists stuck in the water, who I later found out was called John Stanyard, had been travelling from Kettering in Northamptonshire and was on his way to Ludlow for the night.

He had called the emergency services at 8.45pm after getting stuck in flood water.

"I work part time for the Salvation Army and was stopping off in Ludlow before going to south Wales in the morning. I used to live in this area so thought it would be nice to take the scenic route. I wish I hadn't now. But everything else in front of me seemed to be getting through alright."

Because the mobile phone lines kept failing, Mr Stanyard said it was difficult for him to make the emergency services understand what the problem was.

"I kept on telling them I was stuck in a flood but they kept on asking me where the ford was. The recording of the conversation we had must have been quite funny," he said.

Eardiston farmer Rob Williams said it was the worse flooding he had seen and couldn't believe how fast the water had started pouring down.

"The water just came up so quickly, it was incredible. Our fields are just like rivers at the moment," he said.

And resident Derek Marks added: "I have lived here for 30 years and I have seen flooding here before but not as bad as this."

The road was re-opened at 10.30pm once both the cars had been moved by recovery vehicles, and the rain had eased.

Once we had closed the front door we both didn't quite know what to say. We were both soaking wet, tired and hungry and couldn't quite believe what had just happened.

I did make a mental note to myself to always check the weather forecast everyday - and to never, ever, try and drive through a huge flood across a country road.