Mopping up starts as more rain is forecast

A brief break in the wet conditions yesterday allowed businesses and residents to start mopping up.

But with more heavy downpours predicted for today and tomorrow, the worst may yet be to come.

One town that did defy the predictions was Upton-upon-Severn. It had been feared the river Severn would burst its banks on Wednesday night despite the installation of flood barriers.

Emergency procedures had been put in place in the town amid fears up to 21 properties could be affected.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said the water level had peaked at midnight but no problems have been reported.

Two flood warnings were still in place yesterday in Worcester city and on the Teme from Bransford Bridge and Powick. The River Severn and River Avon are also on flood watch.

Despite falling water levels the environment agency said it would be monitoring the situation carefully over the weekend. The only roads remaining closed yesterday were the more rural areas, including the Ford at Kempsey and the bridge at Shelsley Beauchamp.

Nick Riding, Worcestershire County Council's emergency planning manager, said the Silver Partnership - a group responsible for dealing with flooding incidents - responded well to the crisis.

He said the group, which includes the police, fire service, ambulance service, Environment Agency and local authorities, met on Friday morning, Monday, Wednesday and yesterday.

"The group can be called at very short notice, within four hours, to put the Worcestershire Flood Plan into operation," he said.

A team of 10 social workers was put on standby to assist anyone evacuated from their homes to emergency rest centres in Tenbury High School and Upton-upon-Severn's Hillside Centre, or into care homes, but were not needed.

Mr Riding said a team of highways officers were also on standby to manage road closures and check roads and bridges for damage.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has 90 full-time firefighters on duty at any time, but was glad of its 370 retained staff when the flood waters rose.

A spokesman said a number of staff, including control centre operators, had worked during the busiest periods despite being off-duty. Since Monday, June 18, the brigade has attended 172 flooding incidents, and during the peak of the calls on Tuesday, June 19, received more than 300 calls in six hours. Luckily, many of its fire engines are equipped with pumps and life jackets and the brigade has 11 boats.

The brigade evacuated 75 people in Sheffield, as well as many more in the two counties - including 25-30 from Powick, taken part in the dramatic rescue of a man from a patio table in Priors Mill and rescued dozens from trapped cars.

Chief fire officer Paul Hayden said: "I would like to thank all my operational and support staff who have in some cases worked beyond the call of duty to come in and help their colleagues respond to the hundreds of calls we have had from people who have needed our help."

South Worcestershire police have been staffing a co-ordinating centre at Worcester police station in Castle Street.

A spokesman said officers and community support officers had been called upon to physically enforce road closures as motorists continued to ignore signs, barriers and diversions.

The co-ordinating centre will continue over the weekend to monitor the flood situation.

The public has been urged not to wade through flood water, ignore road closure signs or phone the emergency services for weather reports or updates on floods.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said extra control room staff were on duty during the floods, but the service had not seen as dramatic an increase in calls as the other emergency services.

"We have had an increase in calls but nothing like what we were expecting or were prepared for. Our main issues were just manouvering crews around the floods to attend to non-flood related incidents," said a spokesman.

by Claire Fry, Sally Jones and Kate Yates