THE fire brigade has urged people to make sure they don't fall victim to flooding from burst pipes - as it could result in fires.

Alec Mackie, spokesman for the Hereford and Worcester brigade, warned people to ensure water pipes were properly insulated after firefighters spent much of New Year's Day bailing people out from flooded homes and businesses.

Fire crews from across the two counties helped people out of deep water during the bank holiday, including staff at Newey and Eyre electrical retailers in Dixon Street, Kidderminster, and the C&G building society in High Street, Hereford.

Firefighters from Malvern spent nearly two hours at the town's Safeway store after its sales floor, which measures more than 30,000sq ft, was flooded with water several inches deep.

But Mr Mackie added while flooding could be a major nuisance, water getting into electrical supplies could have far more catastrophic results.

"We had a number of calls from people who had become victim to the winter freeze," he said.

Evacuation

"We helped people who needed water draining from their homes, but a number of calls were from those were where there was a danger the water could have got into the electrical supply which may have caused a fire."

In November 2000, the risk of floodwater reaching a main electrical supply sparked the first evacuation of Worcester's Castle Street hospital in its 250-year history.

Fire crews from the city's Green Watch were scrambled to the hospital site after floodwater came within six inches of its main electricity supply, prompting the mass evacuation.

Malvern Safeway store manager Andre Batchelor said investigations were continuing into the cause of the flooding on Tuesday. Fourteen members of staff spent up to seven hours helping to clear the water, although stock was not damaged by the incident.

"Although with the freezing temperature it would seem logical that it was caused by burst water pipes, we don't know that for certain so it's being looked into," said Mr Batchelor.

"But I'd like to say thank you to the fire brigade for its help and support and all those members of staff who came in on their day off to help clear the water, it really was very appreciated."