Environment Agency 'confident' in flood defences

The Environment Agency said it was "very confident" in Bewdley's new flood defences

The Environment Agency has said it is "very confident" in new £10m flood defences that have been installed in Worcestershire.

The defences stretch for 300m at Beales Corner in Bewdley, an area repeatedly hit by significant flooding over recent years.

The River Severn has risen by about 2.5m (8ft) and is expected to rise by a further 0.5m (1.5ft) on Monday night. The defences are expected to protect about 50 properties.

Anthony Perry, West Midlands operations manager, said: "I'm very confident that it's going to provide a valuable service to the community at times of flooding."

He said the defences, which were first unveiled in September, would serve the town of Bewdley for "decades ahead".

Discussing the wider West Midlands and the impact of Storm Claudia, Mr Perry said the region had seen "a lot of surface water flooding".

He also said water levels in the larger rivers had "been on the lower end of a normal winter flood" despite the heavy rain.

"Sadly, though, on Friday leading into Saturday parts of south-west Herefordshire received up to 90mm (3.5 inches) of rain and it caused a lot of flash flooding in places like Ewyas Harold and Peterchurch," Mr Perry said.

He warned residents across the region to "remain vigilant" of the weather but said the forecast was "looking pretty good" for the rest of the week.