VOLUNTEERS from the Wyre Forest branch of the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) were called to Plymouth last night to help emergency services deal with severe flooding.

The crew went down to Devon at 2am to help with potential rescues as the Environment Agency warned of high tides, winds of up to 65 miles per hour and "extremely dangerous" beaches, promenades, roads and footpaths.

SARA Wyre Forest volunteers have now been stood down from Plymouth and are standing-by in Gloucester.

Paul Watkins, area commander for SARA North, said: "We were paged last night at about 8.30pm by the National Flood Co-ordination Centre to ask what resources we could provide.

"We took one crew from Wyre Forest and one from Sharpness in Gloucestershire.

"At 2am we were called to Plymouth as the Environment Agency had said it's likely to be an affected area.

"People seem to have taken the advice of the emergency services and stayed in. We've been on stand-by at the Territorial Army barracks."

Five volunteers from Wyre Forest answered the call for help last night, with another 11 volunteers standing-by in Kidderminster.

Mr Watkins added: "Kidderminster is very lucky. It's had the potential to be very busy. We're on stand-by all weekend until Monday."