A FISH and chip shop owner who woke yesterday morning to find his restaurant five feet deep in river water for the second time in a month has called for big money to be spent on a "long-term solution" to River Severn defence. The Merchants Fish Bar.

Chris Preece, 31, of The Merchants Fish Bar in Load Street, Bewdley, called for dams "even if they do cost £3 million" as he prepared for a last fry on Tuesday night.

He said next morning he was "very depressed" at the scene having forked out thousands of pounds to refurbish his business after the November floods.

He had just returned from inspecting a system recently on the market that would enable him to put his equipment on a hydraulic platform which could be raised at flood time.

Mr Preece said: "It is really, really depressing. These floods are not going to be just once every two years. The authorities have got to face up to it happening a number of times each winter.

"We can no longer get insurance. I lost 12 days of business last time and insurers are only so far only paying for my fridge and freezer.

"I have lived in Bewdley all my life and built up this business and have a family and children at school here. I can't just move out. There has to be a long-term solution."