Army called in to help villagers

Heavy rain during the course of Saturday led to around 80 families being evacuated from homes in Fazeley.

A team of 40 soldiers from the Army Training Regiment at Whittington Barracks used 1,000 sandbags to build flood defences in Elford as the River Tame continued to rise on Saturday afternoon and evening.

The village was almost completely cut off by floods. Fire service and Environment Agency pumps were brought in to help deal with the problems.

In Fazeley several streets were closed by the flood water. Two boats were used in the rescue efforts. Many residents were moved initially to Mile Oak Community Centre and then to Fazeley Town Hall to spend the night.

Roads in the Hopwas area were also flooded and diversions were put in place.

In the early hours of Sunday firefighters from Tamworth and Burton upon Trent were called to fields off Station Road and Walton Lane, Barton-under-Needwood, to help 100 sheep trapped by flood water.

A number of sheep died before they could be rescued. The animals belonged to the owners of Curborough Hall Farm at Curborough, near Lichfield.

Lichfield District Council chief executive Nina Dawes, who led the rescue partnership, praised the efforts of council workers, firefighters and other agencies involved. "There were an incredible number of people helping. We have left no stone unturned," she said.