BUSINESSES and residents in a town devastated by floods have said there were not enough sandbags to protect their properties Malvern Hills District Council, which supplies sandbags to Tenbury Town Council, has come under fire from residents who say they were not properly prepared - even though it was known flooding was on the way.

The banks of the river Teme in and around Tenbury Wells burst in the early hours of last Tuesday morning, causing property to flood.

Town councillor Margaret Austin has lived in Tenbury for 40 years and says she has never seen the river so bad.

"I have never seen water in Teme Street. I just can't begin to imagine the amount of damage it has caused. But there was a lack of sandbags and nobody knew where to get them from, " she said.

And local businessman and town councillor Steve Bowkett said he was approached by a number of people telling him of the problem.

"Malvern Hills did know in advance that this water was on its way. If it was a flash flood then I would understand, but they knew about it. A lot of people have said there was just a complete lack of sandbags in the town when they were desperately needed."

He added he would be raising the issue with county councillors at the next full town council meeting.

Riverside resident Joan Jones, who was evacuated to the high school on the morning of the floods, said although it had not occurred to her that she may need some until she got to the school, she didn't know where she would get them.

"The last time it flooded the council came around with some. But this time they didn't. I heard off a neighbour you might get them from the old council land in the high street, but I wouldn't be able to pick one up if I did."

Newnham Bridge resident Sally Jones had her house flooded on Monday evening.

Miss Jones called the council to request sandbags to help prevent the water entering her house. But she was told they didn't have any left and to call the Environment Agency or go to a DIY store and buy some.

"It was absolutely disgusting. When I called the Environment Agency they told me to go back to the council. We had no help from any of the authorities and were at a loss of what to do."

The family had about two inches of water in their home, and have had to rip out their carpets as a result of the water getting in.

Tenbury town clerk Pat Buckley said, following the heavy rain the previous week, she realised they needed some more bags from the district council, and contacted them on Monday.

However, she was told they would not be delivered until Wednesday. They did eventually arrive on Tuesday, but by then the flooding had already occurred.

"Why didn't they deliver some on Monday? But, to be honest I think it has caught everybody out. The river was rising on Monday though. Unfortunately on Tuesday it was too late," said Ms Buckley.

Emergency planning officer for Malvern Hills District council David Rolls said there were a number of sandbags at the town council offices on the Monday. "Given that the rising water was completely unpredicted, the Teme is very sudden to rise in flood, we were only able to get more out to the town on Tuesday. The only difficulties were that on Monday night was that the flooding was not predicted until very late in the day," said Mr Rolls.

He said they had spoken to the town council later in the day but by this time it was too late. Mr Rolls added the supplies of sandbags were now very good and were situated at the High School and community centre in Tenbury.