COMMUNITY spirit saved the day when the river Teme burst its banks and flooded several homes in Powick.

Thirty people were evacuated from their homes in The Village by the fire brigade in the early hours of Wednesday morning after the river hit its highest level in 60 years.

On hearing the news, Richard Sizer, landlord of the Red Lion pub, opened his doors at 1.30am and provided tea and coffee to the distressed homeowners.

"I went to bed as normal after closing up and was in a deep sleep," he said. "Then I woke to lots of commotion. I just thought it was people arguing outside, but then I got a call from my right hand man Dougie Austin to say he was flooded and could he come round.

"When I opened the door there were people all outside, their homes had been totally flooded. We opened the doors and let them all in. There were lots of people understandably very upset but we tried to lift their spirits."

Dougie Austin said his home was under three feet of water.

"It started coming in about 1.15am I suppose," he said.

"Before I knew it it was up three feet. I rallied everyone up and got helped get them into the pub - we even had people bringing in their cats in cages.

"It was a good atmosphere though - everyone was in the same boat and there's not really a lot you can do is there?"

On Wednesday morning, the hungry and tired residents made their way up to The Crown where manager Jo Robertson-Westley provided hot cooked breakasts and hot drinks.

"She deserves a medal," Tracey Taylor, also of The Village, said.

"We've been up all night and were tired and hungry so this is great."

Mrs Taylor's home was also flooded and she said she could't believe the speed in which the water rose.

"Within five minutes we were two feet deep in water," she said.

"The water was just roaring - the noise was phenomenal."

Trevor Wroughton, of Duck's Nest Cottage, said he had experience of flooding as his house was affected twice in the winter of 2000.

"None of the other houses have ever flooded before but my house is more susceptible," the chartered surveyor, who works from home, said.

"Last time it took a goot ten days to clear up the mess, but this time it's worse.

"Luckily I have quarry tiles throughout the ground floor but it's still made a right mess."

Chris and Wendy Wreghitt were put up by their friend Sue Doorbar of King's End, Powick when the water started flooding their home, Powycke House.

The couple watched as the water broke over the top of the bank at the back of their property at around 8pm and started rising rapidly.

"We put sand bags at the window to the cellar and by the doors but they didn't do any good," Mr Wreghitt said.

"So we just started getting as much out of the house as we could.

"I run a bicycle business from home so clearing my office of the stock was one of the priorities."

When Mr and Mrs Wreghitt returned to the property on Wednesday they found their cellar, office and two-year-old kitchen three feet under water.

Many of their neighbours used pumps to get as much water out as possible so they could start the drying out process.

Malvern Hills District Council also opened up a rest centre at the village hall and are advising residents on temporary accommodation.