GARY Woodman, from the Chamber of Commerce, Hereford and Worcester, says many businesses have been directly affected by flooding and flood damage.

The chamber had also heard from businesses operating below capacity as staff cannot get into work.

He said: "As most of our members are small businesses this has resulted in a dramatic effect directly or indirectly.

"Some are operating on the bare bones of staff, as people cannot get to work. Businesses that are distributing products or services are having to plan routes out of the two counties out.

"Those that are open are seeing fewer customers as people stay at home."

The Chamber of Commerce issued the following practical advice for affected businesses:

Notify your broker or insurance company as soon as possible of your intention to submit a claim.

Your insurers will probably want to send a loss adjuster to inspect the damage, but this may take few days because of the sheer volume of flood claims, so try to be patient.

Take photographs or video of the damage to the buildings and contents.

Mark the water levels on the wall for reference.

Dry out the premises as soon as possible which may involve dehumidifiers or similar specialist equipment.

Do not attempt any repairs until you are confident flooding has ceased and the premises have fully dried out.

Do not attempt to sell any flood affected stock, which may have been contaminated by sewage.

Wear protective clothing when handling debris.

Make a note of any staff resources and other emergency expenses incurred during the clean up.

Keep your customers fully advised of the situation, as they are more likely to be understanding of any disruption to supplies.

If the damage to your premises is substantial, drying out could take some time and you may need to find alternative premises, which will be in short supply, as soon as possible.

Keep trading records, the last set of company accounts and details of any increased costs readily to hand as these will be required for any business interruption claim

You may be approached by claims management companies offering to help with your claim and negotiate with your insurers. If your loss is substantial or complex and you decide you need professional help, ensure you deal with a firm authorised and regulated by the FSA (FSA Register), who are obliged to handle your claim fairly. Non-authorised companies may be operating illegally.