RESIDENTS are clearing up after storms flattened cars and flooded low-lying Wyre Forest areas.

However, one Stourport couple are thanking their lucky stars they were not outside their Hermitage Way home when a tree crushed their car in the early hours of Monday.

Nikki Gregg and Ian Walker are furious because they reported the tree to Wyre Forest District Council as being dangerous a month ago.

Miss Gregg said: "We knew it was a matter of time before the ash tree would fall down. Nothing was done and we are just grateful it didn't hit somebody on the head.

"A crushed roof and some smashed car windows is a small price to pay instead of the other possible consequences."

However, a spokesman for Wyre Forest District Council, which was responsible for the tree's maintenance, said: "We always act as quickly as possible in these situations.

"The storms also brought down much stronger trees than this in other areas across the district."

Two district schools are expected to stay closed until next week as the Shuttle/Times & News went to press.

Stone First School and Upper Arley First School were forced to shut because of electricity problems as the weather took hold.

On the roads, one man had to be released from his vehicle by firefighters using cutting equipment when a tree fell on his van at about 5am on Monday on the A448 in Chaddesley Corbett.

And an hour later in Cutnall Green a car left the A442 road as a result of flooding and its trapped driver was also freed by firefighters.

In Bewdley, town councillor Louise Edginton hit out at thieves who have stolen sandbags.

A spokesman for Wyre Forest District Council, which has freely distributed the sandbags, said: "We have heard of bags being taken."

The bandstand on Stourport's riverside was also left deluged by the floods.

A spokesman for Wyre Forest District Council, which owns the stand on Riverside Meadows, said: "The field and stand are under a couple of feet of water and it is not a pretty sight."

The Flood Helpline number is 01905 767677 and the Environment Agency is on 0845 9881188.