RESIDENTS of Bishops Frome have formed an action group to fight for something to be done about flooding.

Homes and businesses in the area have had to endure repeated flooding for years on end, when heavy rain causes the River Frome and its tributaries to burst their banks.

Nearly 100 people crowded into Bishops Frome Village Centre for a meeting organised by county councillor Patricia Morgan to call for action.

Representatives of Herefordshire Council, the Environment Agency and the Lugg Drainage Board were on hand to hear people's complaints.

"That's a lot of people for a small place like Bishops Frome, so it shows how concerned people are about this," said cllr Morgan. "The authorities were left in no doubt as to the anguish and distress the current situation is causing."

She said that the Environment Agency has now agreed to carry out a flood risk assessment together with the county council.

"It's very important that everyone who's affected by this problem speaks up. We collected names at the meeting, but I'd urge anyone who is affected and who couldn't come to the meeting to get in touch with me."

Resident Mac Henderson, who is helping to launch the group, said the main problems were poorly-maintained drainage ditches and waterways, and the A4103 road crossing the River Frome at Five Bridges.

"The road was raised some years ago, and that has made the problem worse," he said. "It doesn't let the water through fast enough and acts like a dam across the river.

"It's not just a problem for locals. The A4103 is a main east-west route and when it floods, it affects lots of people."