Community helps Gil's tea room in Wolverley after flooding

People worked "four hours solid" to help prevent the flood water from entering Gil's tea room in Wolverley - using pumps and shovels to rescue the business. 

Queens Head Road and other roads in the village had become flooded in the aftermath of Storm Bert, which hit Worcestershire on the weekend.

Business owner Gil Hancox said he was touched by the support from villagers and customers.

Flooding in Wolverley (Image: Gil Hancox)

Mr Hancox said: "We just managed to keep it out.

"People were down here immediately with water pumps. It was absolutely fantastic".

He has shared photos of the extent of the flooding in the village. The tea room was closed on Sunday morning (November 24) but reopened in the afternoon.

He added: "The road coming into the village was closed as well because the Stour broke its bank.

"It's almost becoming an annual event now. It's happening once a year at least.

"It's so frightening. When you see it you think 'here we go again.' But now we are all good".

People took to social media to thank those who helped out. 

Bear Bearcroft described it as "community spirit at its finest."

People supporting shovelled water away from the tea room (Image: Gil Hancox)

Karen Price said: "Well done Wolverley villagers".

 Jackie Crawshaw said: "Well done to all those amazing helpers."

Paul Stephanie Drake added: "So nice to see when needed folks are there for you."

The popular tea room recently hit 500 reviews on Tripadvisor 90 per cent of which are 5 star reviews.

In an update on the flooding on Monday (November 25), the Environment Agency said: "River levels remain high at the Puxton river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall. Consequently, flooding of roads and farmland is expected to continue today.

"We expect flooding to affect low-lying land and roads adjacent to the river from Caunsall to Stourport. Other locations that may be affected include Wolverley and Cookley, Blakedown and Kidderminster.

"No further significant rainfall is expected over the next 48 hours but showers are possible. We expect river levels to remain high for several days".