COMMUNITY spirit saved the day when the river Teme burst its banks and flooded 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 home owners.

"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 3ft of water.

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

"Before I knew it it was up 3ft. I rallied everyone up and 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 breakfasts 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 couldn't believe the speed in which the water rose.

"Within five minutes we were 2ft 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 got 10 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 about 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 their home 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 people about what temporary accommodation is available for them.