SPRING appears to be well on the way Ludlow and south Shropshire and in in Tenbury and the Teme Valley.

The area has experienced a very mild winter with temperatures well above normal for the time of the year.

However, with February not out of the way the winter could still have a last hurrah and people are warned by health experts to be on their guard.

But the weather has also been very wet with one of the strongest storms for many years bringing down trees and causing damage to buildings. However, there were no reports of anyone in the area being hurt in the storms.

But the level of rivers that had flooded in the autumn also rose and caused alarms.

The wet autumn and winter has caused problems for farmers and growers.

Fruit growers in Tenbury and the Teme Valley are concerned because the early spring could come back to bite them if there is a return of a winter freeze and fruit trees are damaged. But early flowering blooms like snowdrops are now growing strong and taking advantage of the mild conditions.