Man arrested over tractor drive through floods

A 57-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a tractor was driven through a flooded high street in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.

The incident occurred during Storm Bert, which caused severe flooding in the town centre. A wall collapse by Kyre Brook led to a torrent of water deluging the area within seconds, with rescue workers yelling to pedestrians to “get back”.

A video shared on social media showed a wave from the tractor’s wake striking shops and homes overlooking the street, breaking some windows.

Garry and Sarah Thompson, proprietors of Special Occasions card shop, were among those affected. They expressed concern about how long it would take businesses to recover from the flood, saying it had taken the town “a good two years” to recover from previous flooding in 2007.

Paul and Rachel Rogers, from Nature’s Design Studio, described how water entered their shop for the first time after windows broke. They were concerned that insurers may not cover the cost of flood damage.

Worcestershire county councillor David Chambers expressed frustration over the lack of flood defences in the town, stating that the Environment Agency had been working tirelessly to design a scheme in keeping with the town’s heritage but needed funding to deliver it.

The arrested man was released on bail while inquiries continue. West Mercia Police have assured the local community that officers will continue to be out and about in Tenbury in the coming days to assist with recovery efforts following the flooding.

Several business owners reported significant damage to their properties. Paul and Rachel Rogers from Nature’s Design Studio stated that they had buildings insurance but not contents insurance, which would likely result in substantial costs for them.

Garry and Sarah Thompson from Special Occasions card shop also experienced flooding, with Mr. Thompson expressing concern about the risk of businesses leaving the town due to the frequent flooding incidents.

Worcestershire county councillor David Chambers expressed frustration over the lack of flood defences in the town, stating that progress seemed to be stalled.

The Environment Agency acknowledged the complexity of designing a scheme that would fit with the town’s heritage and the need for funding to deliver it.