THE issue of blocked drains has become a real hot potato across Worcestershire as flood water recedes.

Much of the blame for the scale of devastation caused by last summer's floods has been laid at the door of the county's drainage system.

Particular concerns have been raised about the number of drains and culverts - particularly in rural areas - that are blocked.

Last year the county council's cabinet member for the environment Councillor Derek Prodger took the unusual - and some would say brave - step of asking people to contact him directly to report drainage problems.

Councillor Prodger says he received a handful of calls and claims problems are easing, though he admits some areas cannot be cleared until the current flood problems are at an end.

We are pleased to see the situation improving. The question that must be asked, however, is why it was allowed to reach such a critical level.

While the intensity of the summer floods could not have been predicted, we have no doubt that some of their impact could have been lessened by improvements to the drainage system.

Cynics may argue that the work being done now is a classic case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Our view, however, is that the lessons of last summer have to be taken on board to ensure preventative measures are in place in the event of any repeat.