Barrier plan is relief for flood-hit Bewdley residents kidderminstershuttle.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kidderminstershuttle.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BBC News
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The River Severn has breached temporary barriers in Worcestershire, flooding homes.
Flood defences at Bewdley failed due to rising water levels in the early hours of Saturday, the Environment Agency (EA) said.
One resident said she was woken by the river crashing through barriers and saw a tidal wave heading into the town. The levels of water were beyond what [the defences] were able to cope with, said Matthew Lawrence from the EA. We d like to see more permanent defences there.
image captionThe force of the river caused defences to fail
The town suffered widespread flooding last year when river levels rose and poured over the top of barriers at Beales Corner.
Brace for six inches of snow: Met Office issues new warning for Sunday as -10C big freeze grips Britain after parts of the country were blanketed by the white stuff this morning after days of flood misery
Storm Christoph will be replaced by snow and ice as the Met Office issues a yellow warning for Scotland
Regions affected by the worst of the incoming weather should be prepared for travel disruption today
London and swathes of the South East are set to see temperatures as low as -2C as cold air coming in
On Sunday, rain clouds will make way over the west of the country, before turning to snow as they head east
Dramatic aerial pictures reveal the shocking extent of flooding in Bewdley after flood barriers were breached overnight leaving homes and businesses under water. Floodwater started gushing over the barriers in the Worcestershire town like a tidal wave as the River Severn rose to near-record levels. The temporary defences were installed earlier this week in a bid to protect homes and business in the aftermath of Storm Christoph. But the full impact of the swelling river arrived early this morning (Sat) as barriers on Beales Corner were breached and water spilled into nearby properties. River levels are now expected to be similar to those of the February 2020 floods, which were the worst to hit the area in 20 years.