FLOODING experts are to look at an emergency warning system for Kempsey, near Worcester, to prevent future problems after a key defence failed.

Consulting engineers Arups has been appointed to carry out an independent investigation to understand the cause of last month’s flooding in the village and to identify what can be done to prevent it happening again.

Its report is expected to be published tomorrow.

Fifteen properties flooded in Kempsey, with Church Street particularly badly affected when homes were flooded from the Hatfield Brook in the early hours of Sunday, November 25.

Your Worcester News has already reported how the urgent investigation was launched after one or both pumps failed.

The pumps were part of the village’s £1.7 million flood defences which opened in July.

Although the pumps did work they did not cut in until it was too late, said Anthony Perry, flood risk manager for the Environment Agency.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “They will provide a chronology of what happened, fully assessing and reporting technical information logged by the pumping station and various other gauges. They will be making recommendations to either rectify or improve the resilience of the pumping station and will also look at warning options for the village “We are committed to learning from this incident to ensure that actions are taken as a result, from the technical side to the production of a Community Flood Plan, which will include an improved warning system. “ Once the report is available, a public drop-in surgery will be held in January to discuss findings and recommendations.

Meanwhile, flood guru Mary Dhonau, who lives off Bath Road in Worcester, has been providing support to 20 Kempsey people hit by flooding.

Ms Dhonau’s Worcester home in Waverley Street was flooded about 12 times between the early 90s and 2000.

She said: “Some of the residents are having a tough time with insurance claims and I’m helping some of them with their witness statements but also giving them some emotional support. I have been flooded myself so I know what it’s like.”