A farmer who battled through the night to save his village from flooding has been told he acted illegally.

The Environment Agency's enforcement officer told Stephen Watkins, of Sheepcote Farm, Clifton, near Seven Stoke, to remove the soil he tipped on the flood plain.

The agency attempted to serve an enforcement order on Mr Watkins, but was forced to reconsider its position when he refused to accept it.

Mr Watkins worked from 11.30pm to 1.30am at the height of the flood to strengthen a 200-year-old flood defence after the swollen River Severn breached the main flood bund.

"The old defence protects nine properties and the water would have been up to bedroom level in one house if I hadn't acted," he said.

Mr Watkins, who lost part of a crop of winter wheat as a result of his action, said: "They say I should have got planning consent but I was trying to be practical and help people. Local knowledge is totally disregarded and all we get is flack."

Neighbouring farmer Clive Gittins, who has 140 beef cattle at Clifton Lower Farm, helped Mr Watkins after being alerted by him that night.

He said flood bunds maintained by the Environment Agency provided some protection but the old defences, built to safeguard properties then owned by the Croome Estate, provided a last line of defence for the village.

"We were using our own initiative," said Mr Gittins.

"We don't want to stand here with our fingers in our mouths while our houses are flooded and our livestock drowns," he said.

Hugh Hanmer, chairman of Severn Stoke and Croome D'Abitot Parish Council, said he supported the farmers' actions, which had saved Clifton from significant flooding.

"The parish, and Clifton residents in particular, would be behind anything that was done to support the maintenance of the old flood embankment," he said.

The Environment Agency's area flood defence manager, Paul Bailey, said: "Mr Watkins has raised the historic private defences. I'm sure he was acting with the best intent, but he was effectively cutting off part of the flood plain."

He said that the agency was now assessing the impact of Mr Watkins action and would either ask him to restore the flood defence wall to its original height or consider taking it over and making it a permanent feature.