MORE than 30 companies in the Hereford area have written to the Government describing how flooding has affected them and their staff in recent years.

Now the Hereford Campaign for Flood Defences is urging more to do so.

"It is very important to get even more support at this time and it would be very helpful to the flood campaign to have copies of their letters," said chairman Bob Binnersley.

The campaign committee, which sent a delegation to Elliot Morley last Autumn, has written to him again following the February flood urging him to act promptly and start work on flood defences at once.

It has also written to Herefordshire Council asking for its support and requesting the council put pressure on Mr Morley to consider Hereford's flooding problems as a matter of urgency.

The Campaign for Flood Defences gathered more than 1,000 signatures in the area, which they sent to the Minister, together with 1,000 postcards of Hereford in flood, each signed by individual members of the public.

Now the committee is waiting for a feasibility study report on flood defences in Hereford, being prepared by W S Atkins, to be made public.

They will then press for involvement with the River Wye Flood Defence Committee and the Environment Department, which acts for DEFRA, over any recommendations made, said Mr Binnersley.

Companies who want to add their support should write to Elliot Morley, Minister for the Environment, DEFRA, Nobel House, 17, Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR.