FIRE crews responding to a number of call outs in yesterday's severe wet weather conditions said most were unnecessary.

Crew manager Chris Ellsum said: "I think some people were stopping their cars in about six inches of water and panicking.

"We want the public to know we are still there for emergencies but we also want them to think a little bit before calling us out."

Mr Ellsum said Hereford crews were mostly in Ledbury, which was worst affected.

They were called to the basement of a house in Aylton and spent three hours pumping water from the property to prevent it making contact with the electric supply.

Mr Ellsum said: "Flooding came off a field and into a drain before running back out again and, because it was an old building, the walls were quite porous.

"But it was more to prevent the level rising rather than pump off any great amount of water."