WORCESTERSHIRE'S flood victims are being called on to help promote a project examining the history of flooding in and along the River Severn.

A team from the Geography and Environmental Management Research Unit at The University of Gloucestershire is drawing together evidence about the past, present and future flood risk for particular communities and places in the lower Severn area.

The team wants to hear from people who can tell them how they and the community have been affected by the floods.

"We are working to reconstruct local flood histories from 1200 to the present along the study section of the River Severn," said team leader Dr Lindsey McEwen.

"This flood database resource will eventually be available for web access so the whole community can benefit from the input of others.

"The next steps then will be community involvement in analysing, debating, disseminating and 'owning' their local flood history and risk information within a longer-term climate change context."

She said volunteers are needed to look through different information sources, such as newspapers, helping to evaluate the evidence about flood histories and risk where they live and producing a written account of personal memories and experiences of flooding.

While many residents of Worcester have suffered as a result of flooding, particularly from the massive flood in November 2000, the risk of properties being damaged has been reduced with the temporary pallet flood barriers on Hylton Road.

The Evening News reported on Saturday that experts from the Environment Agency have identified four other areas of the city as potential site for the temporary barriers.

Anyone who is interested should call the team on 01242 532970 or e-mail lmcewen@glos.ac.uk.