MILLIONS of pounds worth of funding will help Bewdley and other towns on the River Severn combat flooding.

Following today's Budget announcement (Wednesday, March 11), the Severn Valley is set to receive at least £23m for flood defences and resilience.

Bewdley campaigners are hopeful permanent flood barriers will be installed on Beales Corner following a visit from the Prime Minister.

Temporary flood defences at the Wribbenhall side of the River Severn were recently breached and stranded residents had to be rescued from their homes.

Around 110 homes and about 35 businesses are known to have suffered from flooding across Wyre Forest following the wettest February on record.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Bewdley on Sunday (March 8), to view flood defences and speak to residents.

Mr Johnson said he would “get Bewdley done” and spoke about the possibility of permanent defences.

He said: “We are doubling the funding for flood defences to £5.2 billion and we’re also going to be looking at all the things we can do upstream.”

“The problem with these barriers is that they were overtopped. They are great bits of kit but when you have a big flood like that, they’re not going to be effective.

“The things we have to look at are the rules which currently say that you can’t put in permanent defences when you’ve only got a small number of households potentially affected.”

Founder of the Bewdley Flood Defence Committee Lindsay Wilson praised the Prime Minister’s visit and feels the installation of permanent barriers is “feasible”.

The 58-year-old said: “For years we thought it wasn’t. The crux of the matter is cost.”

A group of Beales Corner neighbours first started campaigning for permanent defences seven years ago after properties were flooded.

“We thought that something had to be done,” she added.

Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier said: “I am working with residents to make sure we are learning all the lessons needed, and what sort of permanent solution the town expects. And not just in Beales Corner.”

Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the Environment Agency said: “The £5.2 billion for flood protection is hugely significant to the resilience of the UK. This funding will allow us to invest in infrastructure and nature-based solutions so that otherwise vulnerable communities can have better protection against flooding and be more resilient when it happens, so that they can continue to thrive”.