Body found in search for Black Country woman missing after floods

Mrs Booth had got into difficultly in flood waters near Tenbury, in Worcestershire, over the weekend.

The 55-year-old's body was recovered during a search and rescue operation by West Midlands Police, after Storm Dennis hit the region.

Chief Superintendent Tom Harding from West Mercia Police said: “We are sad to report that a body has been found during our search and rescue operation in Tenbury.

"Whilst formal identification has not yet taken place, we believe this to be Yvonne, who tragically was swept into flood water on Sunday.

"Specially trained officers have given her family this terrible news and are supporting them.”

Severe weather conditions over the weekend saw strong winds and heavy rain bring flooding, damage to homes and travel disruption.

More than 70 flood warnings remained in place across Staffordshire and Worcestershire yesterday with concerns that water levels in the River Severn were yet to peak.

Major incidents were declared in Hereford and Worcester as the flooding situation in Tenbury Wells and Burford reached dangerous levels, meaning people were evacuated on Sunday.

Police previously said a man had been rescued near Eastham Bridge, over the River Teme, near Tenbury Wells, around six miles from Rock in Wyre Forest, also on Sunday.

Mrs Booth's family, in a statement, said: “Yvonne is a very much loved member of our family and we are all devastated by this news.

“We appreciate the continued support from the emergency services. We would like to ask for our privacy at this time.”

Newly-appointed Environment Secretary George Eustice said the country had not been caught off guard by the floods caused by Storm Dennis.

He blamed the "nature of climate change" for the scale of the damage, and said: "There is always more that can be done."

More than 900 Environment Agency staff have been on active incident duty and teams have put up more than two miles of temporary flood barriers across the country.