Call for training in flood danger

Calls have been made for volunteers around the Wyre Forest to be trained to cope with severe floods after fears last year's devastating storms could happen again.

The Wyre Forest district was badly hit by floods during summertime storms in June and July 2007 and among the casualties was the Severn Valley Railway, the heritage steam line which runs between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth.

Councillors say without the help of volunteers the district and other parts of Worcestershire could have faced even more problems.

But there is concern that without proper training the volunteers who helped save homes could be putting themselves in danger.

Now members of the Wyre Forest District Council community services scrutiny committee have called for specialist training for volunteers in villages and towns.

Councillor Helen Dyke, committee chairman, said: "Volunteers were incredibly helpful during the emergencies last year. However, we believe that training should be available for volunteers from bodies such as the Environment Agency."

Lyn Fraley, spokesman for the Environment Agency, said: "If the council comes to us and asks for help this is something we would have to consider."