PUMPS are being installed in Bewdley to help protect the town from flooding.

Severn Trent Water is installing the pumps in Beals Corner this evening following heavy rainfall over the past few days, leading to rising river levels across Worcestershire.

Severn Trent’s waste water manager Paul Acton said river levels are expected to continue to rise over the weekend.

“We want to make sure that we do everything we can to try to protect residential properties, major infrastructure and businesses from flooding,” he said.

“Unfortunately, in stormy weather, the drains and sewers often have significantly more water flowing through them.

“When we get a lot of rain in one go it has a hard time sinking into the ground; so it just runs off the surface and goes directly into drains and sewers.

“Operating these pumps allowed us to reduce the amount of water in the drainage system, therefore avoiding flooding to the local community.

“This flood prevention work is in conjunction with an investment scheme we’re carrying out at the moment in the Queen’s Way area of Bewdley which should be completed soon. When this work is finished it should make the area much less likely to flood.”