FLASH flooding made life difficult for motorists and residents monitored rising water levels during several days of heavy rain in Herefordshire. Roads were closed as the emergency services were called into action and drivers struggled to cope.
RESIDENTS whose homes were badly flooded during last summer's devastation watched anxiously as water levels rose last Friday night.
Jackie Bremner, who lives at Cross Keys, said: "On Friday evening the residents of Cross Keys came out to assess the rising flood waters in the vicinity of Marsh Lane and Wyatt Road.
"In Marsh Lane, 16 out of 19 homes had flooded in July 2007 and most of these are still going through the long and painful recovery process.
"It was far too soon to be expected to deal with another flood experience.
"Some residents are still living partly in caravans in their gardens, some still living on bare concrete floors, some have moved out for the time being and many are still resolving their insurance claims."
A group called the Residents of Marsh Lane has been formed following fears that the flooding will happen again.
The area comes under threat when heavy rainfall floods a nearby canal and a brook.
"Every cloud has a silver lining and for the people who live in this area the weekend's close call has united them," said Ms Bremner.
"Residents agreed at an impromptu meeting to act as one voice to approach the various bodies who may be able to help. Despite the flooding in December 2000, not enough has been done, and the July 2007 flood and the scare on Friday night means something more must now be done."
A kind-hearted but mysterious heroine from Ledbury helped a passing motorist get out of a tricky situation.
Debbie Skyrme, who was on her way to Cornwall, wants to thank the Good Samitarian she knows ony as Kay'.
She describes her as a "total heroine" and say she is indebted to the kindness of "this lovely lady".
"I was driving through Hereford to Cornwall on Friday through blizzards when surface water at Sollers Hope caused a freak flood across the road," she said.
"My car drove through the floods and then cut out on the other side.
"With cars backed up on either side of the waters it was Kay, with two small children in the car, who not only offered me assistance, but helped me fix the tow hook in the sleeting rain."
Kay then towed Ms Skyme to a safe place where she telephoned for help.
Over the weekend Ledbury firefighters attended stranded cars at Bromesberrow and Staplow. Other crews went to flooded houses at Ashen Coppice, Peterstow and Tudorville.
After Tuesday's heavy rainfall firefighters were called to Bromesberrow again following reports of a driver stuck in a flood at 7pm.
Then at 7.30pm firefighters received a call after another motorist was stuck in three feet of water on the A4110 in the Leintwardine area.
Police helped people who came across flooding, especially in the Bromyard and Ledbury areas last Friday.
Police press officer Neil Tipton said: "The weather was causing difficulties but we worked through it and helped the public as best we could.
"Friday afternoon and evening were the busiest periods. Although we did not have anything near the scale of water we had in July it was a difficult evening for officers and anyone out in it."
He urged motorists to modify their speed in wet conditions and drive appropriately.
"If there is flood water and you don't know how deep it is, it's best not to go into it," he said.
Eardisland residents had problems as flooding hit the village.
Villager Diane Wolland said: "We tried to get out on Tuesday morning but we didn't get very far - there was a line of cars that had stopped in the flood and we decided to come back home."
Problems hit the Belmont roundabout and surrounding areas in Hereford.
John Potts, who lives in Hinton Road, said: "I saw water bubbling out of the drains in Hinton Road and even on the Belmont roundabout water has come out.
"When the river is high it cannot go anywhere so it comes back up the drains on to the roads."
The Highways Agency told the Hereford Times investigations were to be carried out yesterday (Wednesday).
"We will have people out on-site and they will have a look at blocked gullies and check the rest of the system to make sure everything is working as it should be," said Annie Harris, for the agency.
The agency also put diversions in place to reduced traffic in the city centre.
A number of Hereford people also faced problems over the weekend when using a phoneline that provides information about the depth of the River Wye in Hereford city centre. Curig Jones, for the Environment Agency, said the speaking level recorder for Hereford was affected by a local power cut but the problem had now been fixed.
But he advised residents that the best number to ring for flood information was 08459 881188.
Yesterday morning (Wednesday) Herefordshire Council reported that 14 roads across the county were closed and nine were passable with care. Traffic was queueing back to the Rotherwas industrial estate yesterday.
