ONE heart attack, two strokes, two cases of high blood pressure and one broken relationship - this has been the price of flooding for people in one part of Bewdley.

These are the statistics cited by Lax Lane resident Jenny Hanson, 52, who will tonight appear with her family in a television special which looks at the effects of the autumn 2000 flooding, which was the worst seen for more than 50 years in Bewdley. John and Jenny Hanson with Jenny's parents Martin and Christine Deakin (centre), who feature in tonight's television special on the autumn 2000 chaos in Bewdley.

Speaking to the Shuttle/Times and News about her experiences since then, which saw her and 55-year-old husband John out of their home for nine months, she said: "I feel like I've aged five years."

The couple were planning to sell their home and move to France to take early retirement after John, who works with a supported employment charity, suffered a heart attack.

But the day the floods came the "for sale" sign blew down - and has not been back up since.

The value of their home has fallen by nearly one-fifth and there is now a total £10,000 excess to insure contents and buildings.

The couple have four children who have left home, including Downs Syndrome sufferer Ben, who has been unable to visit his parents at weekends, and "three very confused cats".

They have spent £1,500 on flood defences for their home, including under-floor pumps, demountable door barriers and raised power points.

Tonight's programme on BBC2 at 7.30pm - Midlands Report: Waiting For The Rains - will focus on the experiences on the Hansons and their elderly parents, who live nearby and were also evacuated.

It will also feature Bewdley Residents Flood Committee chairman Peter Barnett as well as Jerry Akathiotis, of Merchants Fish Bar on Severnside North.

He lost more than £100,000 in the floods and now has the only hydraulic fryer in the country, which is raised four feet above the floor.

Social worker Mrs Hanson, who hopes to put her home back on the market soon, said: "We've just had to have a tree cut down so it's still affecting us 16 months on.

"In our courtyard there are 14 families and there have been two strokes, one heart attack, two cases of high blood pressure and one broken relationship since the floods.

"Is this a coincidence?"

But she added: "There is now great community spirit round here. People who used to be passing acquaintances are now good friends - we have had to eat fish and chips in each other's bedrooms!"