Storm Christoph: Flooding is' worst for 30 years'

With incessant rains overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, with added rain on Tuesday, the Rivers Severn, Vyrnwy and Tanat have all risen to high levels, putting Maesbrook, Melverley and Melverley Green all at serious risk.

Stephen Simpson, whose land in Maesbrook is yet again submerged under water after Storm Ciara in 2020 also flooded his fields, said it was the noise of the rushing river that has surprised him most.

And he added that while he is hoping for no more rain, it is a power cut he is fearing most.

He added: "This is worst than last year ­— it's higher than it's ever been.

"I'm not really panicked because I know in the past it's not been dangerous, but it's definitely higher than it's ever been because it's flowing through the yard.

"It's actually going through the yard. It usually stops by the post but now it's coming through.

"It's because we're not getting the snow which takes longer to melt; we're just getting heavy rain instead of deep snow.

"I'm keeping an eye on things – my only serious fear is if we have or had a power cut from the wind because you can see up the road, the power lines and if a tree knocks that over, I lose power.

"It's happened in the past. I'm not worried but I'm not calm either."

Graeme Storey, also from Maesbrook, came to inspect the floods, and insisted it was the worst he had seen in his 30 years of living in the village.

He said: "We've been here for 30 years and this is the highest we've seen it," he said.

"This is definitely more regular; it used to be a couple of times over the winter but now it happens anytime of the year.

"It happens more frequently but this is really high. There's still quite a lot of water to come.

"It's worrying that it's more regular – this is held back here because of stopping Shrewsbury flooding and the flood barriers going up there.

"But then we have the North West Relief Road possibly going in and that's going to have an effect on the water that's allowed to run through.

"The chances are the flooding is going to be worse around and it's not going to be better.

"I feel sorry for the people who farm this land – it has gone on for centuries and they know how to deal with it but it seems to come up more quickly.

"There's not that seasonality to it – it used to always be winter – but 25 years ago you could assume it wouldn't flood in the summer but now it will.

"It's happening less than one-in-a-century and farmers have to be on their guard all the time."

Matthew Gordon, from Llwyn Groes Farm, near Llanymynech, admitted he and his family were worried about the waters creeping closer to his farm.

He added that the increased flooding means they are constantly repairing fencing around his land.

He said: "This is the worst I've seen it.

"We're concerned that it might get worse and we don't want it to get in the yard and do further damage to the fences.

"The animals are safe at the minute but the fence is broken and the gate is gone. We hope the water goes down.

"It's every few months now – we had one in June last year. We're worried about the power but it's the constant repair on the fences which is getting too much."

Meanwhile, one woman from north Shropshire, who wished to remain anonymous, said her husband had to be rescued between Llanymynech and Four Crosses because he was stranded in the flood water after the river broke its banks.

And she insisted that lorry driver, or those of vehicles able to cope with the flooding, should be more responsible in their driving as her husband was left scared by the sped of the passing traffic.

"It was very disappointing to find out that lorries carried on past him without helping, because they could cope with the floods.

"I was very worried about my husband; he was stuck on his own and the flood waters were rising and the lorries were going right past and splashing water into the car.

"Obviously he was anxious at the time – luckily he had phoned the police and was waiting for someone to come and rescue him, but no-one stopped.

"Not even a lorry driver who could cope with that level of flooding at that stage. Nobody stopped to offer any assistance which was really disappointing.

You can still wear a mask and ask someone if they're ok.

"It was a scary a situation as it was but he's fine now, just a bit disappointed."