A REVIEW into catastrophic flooding in a village near Worcester will be carried out after calls from residents and an MP to re-assess flood defences.

The Environment Agency has announced it will be carrying out a review into Powick’s flood defences after the chaos of this year’s flooding.

A preliminary investigation carried out by the agency confirms that the flood defence scheme built in 2011 was overtopped by the river Teme in February, but the agency says the Powick defences "did not fail".

According to the investigation, the road and houses flooded because the height of the permanent flood scheme was limited by the height of the main road.

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The Environment Agency is now looking at the standard of protection offered by the defence and working with Worcestershire County Council to see if the height of the defence scheme may be increased – along with raising the road.

The agency report also says the flooding of the River Severn did not affect the issue.

February’s Storm Dennis floods saw several Powick families forced to leave their homes, with nearby Powick Mill being almost completely cut off after severe rainfall.

The affected families were given refuge at Stanbrook Abbey and the Abbey Hotel in Malvern.

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The flooding meant the island at Powick was closed, leaving drivers with a substantial detour to get between Worcester and Malvern.

Residents of Powick Mill were almost completely cut off in the floods, having to wade out or use a boat to get out of the historic complex.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has been pushing for several months for a review.

She said: “This is a complicated issue but the report makes it clear that the Environment Agency built a scheme which was the highest possible, fitting in with the current road network.

“With major roadworks currently happening from Powick across to the Carrington Road bridge, I hope that the agency is working closely with the county council right now to see if this issue can be mitigated quickly while a workforce is available and in place.

“We need to make sure that lessons are learned and the appropriate steps are taken to better protect homes, businesses and the vital link road between Worcester and Malvern.”