TWO MPs in Worcestershire have met with the new boss of the Environment Agency to press for more flooding investment into the county.

Both Robin Walker and Harriett Baldwin have held separate talks with Sir James Bevan, the newly-appointed chief executive, to set out how vital it is that Worcestershire secures more help.

The great floods of 2007 saw 4,500 properties across the county damaged and after that £12.5 million was pumped into new defences, including Worcester's Hylton Road bund.

But Worcestershire County Council says 20,000 properties are still 'at risk' of floods in the future.

Mrs Baldwin, who represents West Worcestershire, says key areas like Severn Stoke and Tenbury still need assistance.

She met Sir James for a tour around the Upton flood defences, which have been in operation more than a dozen times since their completion in 2012.

"The local Environment Agency team do an amazing job and I was keen to tell Sir James how much we appreciate their efforts," she said.

"The proof of the agency’s success can be seen in schemes like Upton's which have paid for themselves many times over in times of bad weather.

"Upton used to be a focal point of the world’s media when floods hit the county, but now the town is able to stay open for business throughout the year.

"There is still much work to do and I was able to discuss the need to keep our major roads open in times of flood including the A38 through Severn Stoke and the continuing challenges developing a full-scale plan for Tenbury."

In recent years West Worcestershire has benefitted from around £9 million of investment into flooding resilience.

Robin Walker went on a separate tour of the agency's incident room headquarters in Tewkesbury last Friday where he also got to talk to Sir James.

He said: "Worcester has become famous for its floods, but on this occasion the high waters have been more spectacular than damaging and that is welcome.

"Floods will always be a major concern for me as MP for Worcester and even when the waters recede, it is right to be planning for what we can do to improve resilience in the city."

The last serious event in Worcestershire February 2014 when 163 properties were affected and the main city bridge had to close, with a temporary shuttle bus being used to ferry people across it.