WE'RE not sure how many more times people will be prepared to accept the argument we heard trotted out again this week, dismissing Wednesday night's storm, which caused serious flooding all over Malvern and in parts of Ledbury, as "freak weather".

Most experts seem to be agreed that what Severn Trent described to us as "exceptional weather" is going to become less and less of an exception.

Again this year we have seen plenty of evidence of how quickly global warming is changing our climate.

It won't be any great surprise if this glorious summer is followed by some very heavy rain and, no doubt another long, dark and wet winter.

Reports of serious flooding are becoming increasingly common in the Gazette & Reporter and it can't be acceptable for so many streets in Malvern to be turned into lakes and rivers.

Severn Trent has spent £3.5 million in improving the ability of the Malvern sewerage system to cope with flooding.

It says only one street in Malvern affected by Wednesday's flooding has Severn Trent sewers, the rest, it says, are the responsibility of the highways authority.

So it's over to you Worcestershire County Council. If existing drains can't cope with the amount of rain we had on Wednesday night, then work needs to be done urgently, whatever the cost.

People should not have to put up with their homes being flooded if something can be done to prevent it.

THANKFULLY the weather gods were smiling on us on Saturday and the rain held off until the bands had finished playing at the Malvern Experience Week's Picnic in the Park, in fact we had a lovely sunny afternoon. Our thanks to everyone who supported that event and the week as a whole.