A FAMILY returning from a seaside holiday with their motor boat in tow found themselves in the right place at the right time for one of the most dramatic rescues of the great deluge.

The couple and their two children, from Kidderminster, were returning along the A44 as the River Frome burst its banks at Bromyard, engulfing mobile homes occupied by elderly residents.

Firefighters used the boat to get through deep water to reach a frail woman of 92 who had left hospital the day before and was encased in plaster up to her waist. The pensioner was treated by a paramedic and taken to hospital.

Crews, linked by safety lines, waded through waist-high water to rescue more than 50 residents from their flooded homes at the riverside site at Linton Park.

"In more than 20 years in the fire service, I have never seen flooding like it," said sub-officer Dave Taylor.

"With so many elderly people at risk it was a very worrying situation, but disaster was averted thanks to help given by many local people. They were magnificent."

Mr Taylor's two crews, together with crews from Bromyard and Malvern, worked with townspeople, a digger driver and farmers with tractors to mount a lengthy rescue operation across the spread-out site.

Elderly flood victims, some in their 80s and 90s, were ferried to Bromyard Hospital for medical checks.

Some local residents provided emergency accommodation and beds were set up in Bromyard Leisure Centre, where many of those made homeless stayed overnight.

With hotels packed and staff unable to get into town, town clerk Mike Cresswell helped John and Sylvia Silver, of the Falcon Hotel, rustle up 40 cooked breakfasts for people staying in the centre.

"What happened was very traumatic for those affected but the crisis brought out the best in people," said Mr Silver. "Townspeople performed absolutely exceptionally."

l AS floodwaters rose around mobile homes occupied by pensioners, concerned Bromyard residents reached the site.

Fire and rescue crews, inundated with calls for help, soon arrived to mount a rescue operation with the help of local people - but the drama unfolded amid great anxiety.

Jamie Jacobsen, Bromyard deputy mayor, was among a number of worried townspeople who went to the riverside Linton site as the River Frome turned into a raging torrent.

He said a number of people called 999 and were warned the emergency services were stretched to the limit.

"The water was creeping up and the elderly residents of the park were getting increasingly concerned. Some of them were standing around wondering what to do.

"One or two were very frightened and very confused. It all happened so fast. In the space of an hour or so the river came up and flooded the site - in places the water was waist-high."

He said helpers came from all over Bromyard to join the rescue operation. Drivers of 4x4 vehicles took flood victims to the community hospital and the town's emergency centre at Bromyard Leisure Centre.

Volunteers pitched in to provide tea and biscuits and attend to the needs of the vulnerable old folk.

Most of Bromyard is well above the river and the town has no contingency plan for flooding, said Mr Jacobsen.

He praised Herefordshire Council's emergency planning officers for doing "a great job" in the circumstances.

Bedding for the emergency centre was rustled up from private homes, care homes and the hospital.

4 Pictures by Jamie Jacobsen.