LARGE parts of the Malvern Hills district have been affected by the widespread flooding in the county this week.

Though Malvern town itself escaped the worst of the floods, parts of the district including Tenbury Wells, Upton-upon-Severn, Powick and Bransford were hit by Storm Dennis.

As a result of the floods, the main route between Malvern and Worcester, including Powick roundabout, was flooded, causing travel disruption to thousands of commuters.

In Powick, as many as 20 homes were flooded, with families being forced to leave and find alternative accommodation.

The affected families were given refuge at Stanbrook Abbey and the Abbey Hotel in Malvern, but district councillor Tom Wells was appealing for help rehousing them until they can return home.

He said: “In a very short window, about half an hour, there was a deluge into people’s properties and it was devastating.

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“It affected many homes, many of those people having also been affected in 2007. We had flood defences installed back then but they didn’t hold the water back this time so about 20 properties were flooded.

“We desperately need help rehoming these people. You can’t live out of a suitcase in a hotel for six months.”

Cllr Wells is asking anyone with furnished accommodation who might be able to help a family affected by flooding to contact him on 07702 996203.

Eventually Cllr Wells was able to get the families set up for the night in Stanbrook Abbey Hotel, while those with pets were given shelter at the Abbey Hotel in Malvern.

The flooding meant the island at Powick was closed, leaving drivers with a substantial detour to get between Worcester and Malvern.

Cllr Wells added: “20,000 cars go through there every day so drivers were having to go via the M5 and M50 just to do a 10 minute journey.”

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Malvern Gazette and Worcester News sport reporter Marcello Cossali-Francis was unable to travel to our office in the city. He said: “It is incredibly frustrating because it is about a 15-minute journey normally but the closure of Powick roundabout meant that I would have added about 45 minutes to my journey.

“The flooding around the office was remarkable and that also prevented me from being able to park my car anywhere so on Tuesday I had to get the train and then walk the long way round to get to the office.

“On Wednesday (February 19) I was supposed to be at a press conference and again I haven’t been able to attend due to the road closures.”

Elsewhere in the region, the bridge at Bransford was closed with the Fox Inn being partially flooded as a result.

Steve Edrop, who lives and works at the pub, said the bottom floor had been flooded, but staff were fine upstairs.

Back in Powick, residents at Powick Mill were effectively cut off by waist-deep water, with some of them having to be evacuated by boat.

Juliet Wallace-Mason, director of Powick Mill, said the residents had come together to help each other out.

She said: “The fields are all flooded and Old Road is impassable. We got the call and were told to evacuate but thankfully only one house is without power currently.

“They have been able to get some people out by boat who need to get out as the car park has been waist-deep.

“We are sitting tight and waiting for the next lot as we are at a confluence so there could be lots of water coming down from Wales. We are holding our breath here and waiting to see.”

Powick roundabout re-opened on Tuesday, as did the main road between Malvern and Worcester.