THE road and gardens in a notoriously flood-hit Hereford street have been submerged underwater in the wake of Storm Bert.

But flood warden Colin Taylor said that locals in Greyfriars Avenue were relieved the water had not come high enough to enter their homes.

This is despite the water rising up to Mr Taylor's patio, filling his back garden along with others in the street.

(Image: Bridie Adams) Mr Taylor said the predicted flood level was reduced from 5.3 metres to 5.2 metres by the Environment Agency, a huge relief to him and his neighbours.

One family had just moved in across the road, he said, and were seeing the effects of flooding on the street for the first time within just days of moving in.

He told the Hereford Times that he and his neighbours "always prepare for the worst", and that everyone has barriers on their doors and pumps on their houses.

(Image: Bridie Adams) Mr Taylor has closed the street as floodwater has filled up from the rowing club end towards the car park.

However, he said that as of this afternoon (November 25) it is beginning to recede, and has already peaked, meaning the street is now safe from the risks of homes filling with floodwater.

In previous weather events he has evacuated his neighbours from their homes in his boat, allowing them to get in and out of the street safely and continue to go to work even when the street is flooded.

"We haven't had to get the boat out, as the water is shallow enough to wade through in wellies," he said. "Everyone has four-wheel drives along here, but a smaller car would struggle to get through. It's probably nine to 12 inches deep."

Four flood warnings remain in place for Hereford, all for the river Wye. They cover north and south Hereford, Rotherwas and Ross-on-Wye.

ALSO READ:

When most of the avenue was flooded in February 2020 in the wake of Storm Dennis, the level reached 6.11 metres.

This was a catastrophic event for the people of Greyfriars, as water entered their homes and caused extensive damage. Only one house in the street escaped internal damage.

Mr Taylor is a former Hereford United physiotherapist and heads up the Greyfriars flood group to help prepare people for extreme weather that could damage their property.