People ordered from their homes as flooding leaves Tenbury under water

As homes and businesses were flooded, some people had to be evacuated to the town's secondary school.

Tenbury High School caretakers John Davies and Barrie Bowes were called by the police at 2.30am on Tuesday and were told to open the sports hall to house people from some of the worst-affected areas of Tenbury Riverside Mews and Church Street.

"We had about 30 people turn up here at 3am," said Mr Davies, aged 55.

"The police told us we had to open so we both came up here to make it more comfortable for them, turning on the heating."

Mr Bowes, aged 60, added: "People even brought their pets with them. We have had dogs and cats here, and another lady even said she wanted to bring her chickens with her."

Headteacher Stuart Cooke arrived at the school at 6am and said they were glad to be able to help.

"I was very surprised to hear what had happened," he said. "Although we knew that the Teme was very full we didn't think it was going to overflow."

He said the school had to be closed as many staff and pupils were unable to get across the river, and the bus would have struggled.

Among those taken to the school were four people with special needs from a residential home in Church Street.

Karen Jeffries, aged 50, who was woken at 3am by her carer, said: "We had a police escort. The school has been really good and they gave us tea and coffee.

"We have lived in Tenbury for 14 years and I think that we never thought we would be affected by the river like this. It is a worry for us."

Riverside Mews resident Joan Jones was woken at 2.30am by the fire brigade and told to evacuate.

She said: "We just hope it is going down now. We never dreamt the river would be this bad. We are all just very tired now more than anything."

Brothers Tom and Oliver Page took their dog Merlin with them when they were told to leave their house, which had more than a foot of water in it.

Tom, aged 14, who attends Tenbury High School, was woken at 3am by his dog's barking. He said: "Water was in the house already and it was a shock to see it. We had three guinea pigs and two of them died as the cage was downstairs. We also have two cats and we can't find one of them. We just want to go back home."

Oliver, aged seven, said he was worried about his toys, especially his computer.

The evacuees were fed by volunteers of the Woman's Royal Voluntary Service who gave them a bacon sandwich and hot lunch.

West Midlands regional manager Jenny Wallace said the service had experienced its busiest two weeks in six years.

Meanwhile, in the town's Market Square, businesses were counting the cost.

Nick Walker from the solicitors Norris and Miles found the cellar used to store case files under two foot of water.

"Thankfully we don't keep current files in here," he said. "The cellar has been damp before but nothing like this. Luckily we managed to find someone with a water pump and it is starting to drop slowly."

Steve Bowkett, who runs Tenbury Photo Centre and Vivre Interiors on Teme Street, had stock damaged by four to six inches of water.

"It has lapped on the slip road by the river bank many a time," he said. "But this is the first time I have seen it this far. It is the sewage that is the problem."

On Teme Street, Bryan Pugh woke up to find that his his home near the Teme Bridge was under three feet of water: "People in Ten-bury have been wonderful. I have had several offers for accommodation and help. But it is such a mess inside.

"It was a bit of a shock. I have been here 37 years and I have never, ever seen a flood like this before. I had put all furniture I could upstairs last night but some was just too heavy to lift. My carpet is also ruined."

People staying in the school were allowed back to their homes at 1.30pm yesterday, but as the Worcester News went to press it was still unknown if the school would be open today.

Last night, a structural engineer sent out to look at the Teme Bridge decided it was unsafe and ordered it to be closed.