FLOOD debris piled up against Hereford's historic Old Bridge has finally been cleared by the Environment Agency.

Workers with boats, waders and chainsaws have been working at the bridge this week to remove branches and litter which were caught up on the arches after recent bad weather.

Debris from recent flooding in Hereford has been cleared from the river Wye at Old Bridge. Picture: Phill Lister/Hereford Times Camera Club

Debris from recent flooding in Hereford has been cleared from the river Wye at Old Bridge. Picture: Phill Lister/Hereford Times Camera Club

The river Wye peaked and burst its bank three times in eight days earlier this month, with the highest peak of 5.34 metres on Friday, January 13.

That level – less than a metre below February 2020's record of 6.11 metres – saw five homes in Greyfriars Avenue flooded, with some new defences at homes failing.

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Bishops Meadow and fields behind the rowing club were submerged, with Holme Lacy Road flooded and a reported rescue being carried out.

Elsewhere, the A438 at Letton was closed for much of the week, as were roads around Marden, between Hereford and Leominster, and, at the beginning of this week, roads around Ross-on-Wye as the river peaked further downstream.

A swollen river Wye in Hereford on Sunday, January 8, with debris piled up against the Old Bridge . Picture: Sofie Smith.

A swollen river Wye in Hereford on Sunday, January 8, with debris piled up against the Old Bridge . Picture: Sofie Smith.

It all happened against a backdrop of Environment Agency industrial action, which meant flood warnings – several of which were issued in Herefordshire – did not carry vital information such as predicted peaks, times or specific areas due to be hit by rivers bursting their banks.

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A predicted peak of up to six metres on Saturday, January 14, actually reached a peak of 4.75 metres the next day.

In 2020, Old Bridge was closed during flooding due to safety concerns.

The grade I-listed stone bridge was built in the 15th century to replace an older, timber bridge. It was also the site of the Seige of Hereford, a English Civil War battle between the English and Scottish.