FOR most of us, the effect of the River Severn bursting its banks was minor inconvenience as we spent longer in traffic queues than normal.

People in Worcester were aware of what was happening in the city because it was there for all to see.

Elsewhere, hundreds more people were directly hit by the worst flooding the county had endured in more than 50 years.

The effects were felt so badly that senior members of Government made whistle-stop visits to meet the flood victims.

Bewdley and Upton-upon-Severn lie on the Severn either side of Worcester and both were severely hit by the floods of 2000, with many people cut off.

Both areas have been prone to flooding in the past, but only one has risen from the deluge with real hope.

Bewdley is now undergoing work on a major flood defence scheme to prepare itself for a future emergency.

The town is a focus for flood defence and flood aid strategies following the setting up of its flood defence committee.

The chairman of the committee, Peter Barnett, said the floods crisis hadchanged people's lives.

"One hundred and forty homes were flooded quite severely," he said.

"There are still some people who haven't moved back and our homes are due to flood again soon."

He said that a nearby resident, who had not been flooded, decided to call all the residents together to find a solution to the annual problem.

The Bewdley Flood Committee was formed and has held a flood fair in the town for businesses and agencies to showcase their services.

"By working together we can have a voice which can talk to those who make the decisions," said Mr Barnett.

"But we have to assume that flooding is the norm and we've got to be prepared."

Bewdley is one of the first towns to benefit from flood defence schemes proposed in the wake of 2000 floods but the future doesn't look so rosy for Upton-upon-Severn.

Almost a year on, people in the town are still fighting for relief from the floods.

"We've had no relief from the business rates at all and we were closed for a month," said King's Head landlord Graham Burn.

"We worked around the clock to get the pub re-opened. The second time it took us three-and-a-half days.

"People are talking about the floods now because it's that time of year, but we hope it won't be as bad.

"There's nothing that can be done about it. Upton tends to get cut off on both sides."

The pub, on Lower High Street, Riverside, is among three which regularly flood.

"I've got a business that thrives because it's on the river," said Mr Burn.

"I'm busy because the river's there, I can't complain in the winter. It's a case of just living with it."