A FLOODING command centre set up in Worcester to co-ordinate the national effort had an unexpectedly quiet weekend after heavy rain failed to impact on the already swollen rivers across Britain.

Following a bleak forecast for the weekend the emergency services, Environment Agency and public were all bracing themselves for further flooding.

However, although many areas saw persistent showers on Saturday and Sunday, river levels continued to drop as the Worcester News went to press.

Zahoora Ahmad, head of organisational development at Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Thankfully there were no further flooding incidents over the weekend so we looked to the clear-up exercise in many areas."

A room in Hereford and Worcester's fire control centre was transformed into a command centre designed to co-ordinate any flooding incidents across Britain over the weekend.

Mr Ahmad said: "The command centre worked very well. We had fire service specialists, people from the Department for Environment and the Environment Agency all working together to monitor the situation. But, as there was no significant activity, our efforts moved more away from emergency response to recovery efforts."

A "fierce pump-out operation" in one of the worst flood-stricken areas was boosted by the arrival of extra pumps from around the country. Areas of Toll Bar and Bentley, north of Doncaster, remained under several feet of water but 10 additional high volume pumps were brought in yesterday to pump more water out to the River Don.

The Environment Agency said, despite further rain forecast over the coming day, it was confident the rivers could cope with extra water and residents were urged not to worry. Troops and lifeboat crews remain on standby to assist if heavy rain brings more misery to the flood-hit communities.

Mr Ahmad said: "We will continue to monitor the situation and will decide whether to close the command room if we think it is no longer required.

"We will however, have at least one person continuing to monitor things."

Several areas of Worcestershire were hit by floods last week when the rivers Teme and Severn burst their banks.

Judge Eric Dickinson, aged 68, died when his car was swept away by flood waters near Pershore.