Storm Bert: 70 people rescued from floods by firefighters

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has said that during the floods caused by Storm Bert, crews have rescued scores of casualties from the water and vehicles, as well as animals, in over 50 callouts across the two counties.

These are some of the rescue incidents firefighters were called to during the worst of the storm, on November 24.

Hereford

Firefighters were called out to Roman Road (Image: Hereford Fire Station) Emergency services were called to a major flooding incident in Hereford over the weekend, with two fire crews called to Roman Road in Hereford. A house had flooded and six residents had to be rescued, with police also called to the scene.

Leominster

A fire engine heads towards Kimbolton from Leominster along the flooded A49 (Image: Henry Dukes) The north of the county was hit worse by flooding, with several incidents leading to fire service call-outs in and around Leominster.

Crews were called to vehicles in water in several locations surrounding the town, including in Docklow, Pembridge, Monkland and Orleton.

These rescues saved around eight people from the Leominster area, as well as two dogs.

Bromyard

Flooding on the A465 at Cricks Green near Bromyard (Image: Erica Jade Feeley) Also in the north of the county, Bromyard was hit badly by flooding.

Bromyard firefighters rushed out to a house in the town's Worcester Road, rescuing six residents from properties in the street.

A woman and child were later pulled from a stranded car by a farmer at the Newtown Crossroad, and the fire service rescued a further two people in Much Cowarne.

Golden Valley

Firefighters tackling the floods in the Golden Valley (Image: Peterchurch Fire Station) The rural Golden Valley, close to the Welsh border, also experienced bad flooding, with people and animals needing to be saved from the water.

In the morning, a crew was called to rescue 12 sheep and a tractor in Letton, with the animals and vehicle being returned to a farm yard.

Around an hour later, in Vowchurch, a crew rescued two casualties from a vehicle in water using a rescue sled and left them with relatives.

A woman also had to be pulled from the water in Whitney-on-Wye, with a farmer coming to her rescue and police, fire service and an air ambulance all called to the scene. 

Borders

Herefordshire firefighters were also called over the county borders into Wales, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire to assist other fire services.

A major flooding incident happened near the Herefordshire border with Wales, in Knighton, as 36 people had to be rescued from eight vehicles in water. As well as Herefordshire and Welsh firefighters, police were called, with the rescue mission going on for almost six hours, from 2pm to 7.45pm.

Also just over the Welsh border, firefighters were called out to reports that a house had flooded in Llangua. The fire and rescue service said that a man was helped from the property, but that it was not flooded when they arrived.

On the Gloucestershire border near Dymock, a man was rescued from the top of his van by Ross-on-Wye's water first responder. 

Near the border between Herefordshire and Worcestershire, at Eastham Bridge, Herefordshire fire crews rushed to save a male casualty from his vehicle using a rescue sled.