CLASHES erupted between drivers and angry villagers who formed a human blockade to stop people driving through their village in the wake of devastating floods.

About 20 villagers in Powick took matters into their own hands following the worst floods the village has suffered for 60 years.

Their actions led to some heated exchanges with motorists. About 50 drivers were forced to turn around during the floods on Wednesday morning.

About 30 residents from 12 homes were evacuated from their homes after the Teme broke its banks early that day, taking refuge in the Red Lion pub.

But many chose to protect their homes and stop motorists causing a damaging wake by driving through the village.

Sheryl Sampson, aged 26, whose home suffered £7,000 damage, was one of a number of villagers in the blockade.

Mother-of-two Miss Sampson said: "One guy driving through said I want to get to work' but we stopped everyone coming through. We said to him how would you feel if it was your property?' He was very abusive."

The family also had to listen to their two pet guinea pigs squeal in terror as they drowned in the flood water. The family could not get to them because of the strength of the floodwater pouring into their home. Miss Sampton's partner Neil Crane, aged 27, said police closed the roads too late. He said the road was closed by police at 5am, more than three hours after their homes began to flood.

He said: "It was dangerous but cars kept going past us. In the end we wouldn't let them go through. We were concerned about the wake. We had nobody to advise us. The service was atrocious. When they closed the road it was like bolting the stable door after the horse had bolted."

Firefighters from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service were going door-to-door in Powick, Bransford, Tenbury Wells and Upton-upon-Severn yesterday to find out how they could improve their response to future floods and to give advice. The emphasis was on planning ahead of heavy rain predicted this weekend.

Janet Teague, whose home narrowly escaped flooding, and Tracy Cale, whose home flooded on the ground floor flooding, were very happy with the hard work of the fire service.