Rain and flash floods hit town traders

The downpour was a bitter blow to Gas Shop proprietor Sheila Pearse whose High Street business reopening was temporarily delayed while staff pumped water out. Former Scotland international Kenny Burns had been called in to carry out the opening ceremony.

The shop opened 45 minutes later than planned, but the cost of the damage is estimated at around £10,000. All this came after the shop was forced to close because of a flood in January.

Mrs Pearse, whose business has suffered from flooding three times previously, said: "I cannot even put into words how I feel. I just cannot believe it.

"The water came in through the French doors at the back of the shop. We just had to apologise to customers for the mess we were in."

Evesham fire crews were called to several flooded shops and businesses during the day.

High Street supermarket Kwik Save was forced to close after water got into the store.

Simon Bowden, the Kwik Save manager, said the store was closed all day while staff mopped up in preparation for Sunday opening.

He said the rain had got in through the doors because of the nature of the sloping car park which had caused the water to overflow from the drains.

He added that he would be talking with the landlord to see what sort of anti-flood measures could be implemented.

He said: "I would like to express my gratitude to the staff for staying all day to help clean up and apologise to our customers for the inconvenience."

Sheila Hanson, licensee of the Gardeners Arms, put the flood at her pub down to blocked drains in Littleworth Street, where the pub is.

The pub was able to carry on serving while staff helped bail the water out. "The rain came in off the roads and kept on coming in. We had water behind the bar and had to turn the electricity off," said Sheila

l THE Journal would like to point out that the flood at The Gas Shop in January mentioned in last week's advertising feature was due to a cause unconnected with their premises.