SUMMER took an unexpected turn 10 years ago in Herefordshire as flash floods battered the county.

Hereford Times:

More than 120 reports of flooding were made across the county and over 4,000 sandbags handed out on July 6, 2012, as roads and homes were submerged.

Dozens of roads were closed, while a rest centre was set up in Ross-on-Wye to provide refuge for people whose homes had been flooded. 

Hereford Times:

Ross was particularly badly hit by the downpour but other parts of the county, including Yarpole and Aymestry in north Herefordshire, suffered too.

Residents in Smallbrook Gardens had to be evacuated as water got into their houses, while Woodedege in Tudorville also got badly flooded.

Ashfield Park Primary School in Ross was also flooded and closed for the day.

The M50 was closed between junctions one and two near Ledbury.

In Hereford, the Beer on the Wye festival, set to be held at Hereford Rowing Club, was cancelled due to flooding.

Hereford Times:

Herefordshire was not alone, as some parts of the country saw a month's rain fall in just one day.

More than 60 flood warnings were issued for England and Wales, with hundreds of flood alerts also in place.

Hereford Times:

A red warning for severe weather was issued for parts of the south-west of England.

Nationally, Prince Charles paid a visit to flood-hit Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, while thousands of Grand Prix fans were warned not to attempt to travel to Silverstone.

The flooding came after the UK found itself underneath an accelerating part of the Jet Stream, which created low-pressure centres and a greater risk of rain, forecasters said.