THOUGH flood defences have saved the majority of homes from the scale of flooding seen in 2007, 23 properties have still succumbed to water.

While the city may not be seeing the scale of devastation caused by the floods seven years ago, Mary Dhonau, flood victim advocate, said it was a traumatic experience for those affected.

During the recent heavy rain, the Environment Agency said it had reports of 23 properties flooded in and around Worcester.

The majority were in Severn Stoke where nine properties are flooded and rescue teams had to save two adults from rising waters on Sunday evening.

The pair were trapped in their home in Church Lane by about one metre of water at 6.15pm.

They were led to safety by firefighters from Pershore using an evacuation sled.

Firefighters said they had spoken to people living in the area to establish arrangements if the water levels should rise once again.

In Upton-upon-Severn, six properties were flooded, five properties were flooded in Diglis and three in Bewdley.

Ms Dhonau, whose former home in Waverley Street was flooded on numerous occasions, said: "What people don't expect when they have been flooded is the feeling once the media has gone.

"At the time it is exciting and everyone is pulling together but suddenly that goes and and you're hit by a huge emotional rollercoaster which takes you completely unawares.

"You have to watch everything you have saved up for, things like drawings your children have done at playgroups or pictures of them as babies, all those memories destroyed and in a skip.

"People aren't prepared for the hugeness of it all - it's absolutely awful."

In Waterworks Road, Barbourne, where homes back on to the river Severn, a number of residents had clubbed together to instal flood defences and pumps.

The homes are managing to stay dry despite the river waters being in their back gardens and in the road.

A woman resident said: "I believe a couple of neighbours who haven't got defences have had their kitchens flooded but a few of us have invested in our own flood defences because we don't get any help from anyone.

"I think the river's the highest it's been since since 2007, it has been up and down the street on various occasions but at the moment, because of the extreme weather conditions, it's up to the kerb.

"We've got a lot of sightseers and people who want to drive through the river and then turning around but I think the road really needs to be closed off to stop the backwash.

"The water could be contaminated and they don't consider someone may have just cleaned out their garage or trying to get on top of things."

She said she was trapped in her house yesterday because her flood defences had to be built higher but people were managing to make it out wearing waders.

"After the floods in 2007, I was determined that we were staying so we have put up with it.

"It is what you expect when you live next to the river and the views when it is drier compensate for it."

Ms Dhonau said things had come a long way since 2007 with flood defences at Powick, Uckinghall and Kempsey all working well.

"What we need to make sure we do for absolutely everyone who has been flooded is to get behind them as a community.

"If you know someone has been flooded go over there and help out.

"Offer them a cup of tea, bath or just ask them to come over for a bit of warmth and help them get through a really, truly awful time."

For advice on flooding visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/default.aspx or www.knowyourfloodrisk.co.uk.