THE Leader of Shropshire Council has vowed to put pressure on authorities to tackle flooding issues during a visit to north Shropshire.

Councillor Lezley Picton visited residents in Melverley on Tuesday after the area was submerged by floodwaters coming off the River Vyrnwy and the River Severn.

Levels peaked on Sunday during Storm Franklin – and for the Vyrnwy reached record levels upstream at Llanymynech.

READ MORE

However, they have yet to subside.

Cllr Picton said: "I have been with the communities who live around here and what amazing people they really are."

She added: "The water is literally everywhere. The water will sit here for probably the next couple of days.

"But I have been talking today to people whose houses have been flooded again, this in the third time in three years and they're just stoic – there is an incredible community spirit here and we need to be able to do more to help these people because this is happening every year now, so I really will impress upon the Environment Agency we need to make sure we have short-term and long-term measures in place for these communities, but they are so amazing!"

Cllr Picton also met with Cllr Sally Herbet-Jones, chairman of Melverley Parish Council, who has been out and about helping the community.

She said: "This last 24 hours , it's been pretty bad. It's been the worse I've seen – I've lived in Melverley now for 20 years. The people. local people have lived her longer than that, also say this this is, yeah, this is pretty significant."

Flood warnings are still in place for the River Vyrnwy at Maesbrook and at Melverley, while a flood alert is in place for the Severn Vyrnwy Confluence further downstream.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "We expect river levels to remain high over the next few days. We are closely monitoring the situation.

"Please plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded, and avoid contact with flood water."