Street's £2.5m flood defence scheme completed

An embankment has been created across land and through residential gardens during the work

A £2.5m project to reduce the risk of flooding on a residential street has been completed.

The scheme by the Environment Agency (EA) saw the creation of an embankment across land and through gardens near Toronto Close in Worcester.

A wall along Old Road has been strengthened and rebuilt, while two flood gates, which will only be closed in the event of a flood, were installed in front of existing access points from Toronto Close onto Old Road.

In July 2007, 16 properties flooded and during Storm Dennis in 2020 many residents had to evacuate.

Toronto Close in the Lower Wick area has a history of flooding from the River Severn and River Teme, which impacts the water level of the nearby Laughern Brook during and after heavy rainfall.

The EA completed the scheme in collaboration with Worcestershire County Council.

The area around Toronto Close, Worcester, has suffered repeated flooding

When flooding hit in July 2007, it followed a wet summer and saturated ground led to flood water rising from the brook and Teme, the EA said.

Ray Grundy, who has lived in the street with his wife since 1980, said it had been very wet all through June 2007 and "then we had more than 24 hours of solid rain and the water kept rising".

He added the house was slightly higher than some others in the street so it did not flood inside, but "we've had water coming up to the house".

Mr Grundy said: "It means for the first time we can now go away on holiday during the winter and not have to worry if we are going to flood. Everyone is feeling more relaxed."