Floods devastate Ironbridge cafe for fourth time in four months

Heavy rain caused water to cascade into the street from a sewer into Dale End Cafe and neighbouring businesses in Ironbridge on Sunday.

Owner Chris Harrison called friends and neighbours who rallied round to try and barricade the cafe, but they couldn't keep the water out.

WATCH: Video shows Dale End flooding

Chris has only just restarted on repairs needed after devastating floods in February made a huge amount of damage.

He now wants answers and for the powers that be to sort out a permanent solution to a problem that has been going on for several years.

He said: "Every time we get heavy rain it floods. It wasn't from the River Severn or the brook this time, it came up through a sewer.

"What do I do? If I can't get to speak to the powers that be and sort this out properly, I don't know how I'm going to be able to carry on with it.

"We only kept going after the last floods because of our community. I believe we've got one of the best communities here.

"As soon as it started I was on the phone and people were down here within 20 minutes trying to stop the water getting in. Everyone tried but we couldn't keep it out unfortunately.

"Telford & Wrekin Council sent people down to help and they've been brilliant."

Thanks to help from locals, Chris was able to salvage newly-bought equipment and there has only been puddles of water that have crept in, but it's kicked up a considerable stink.

Chris added: "I don't know what to do. I don't know where to turn. We need help from somewhere. We've had enough."

Dale End Cafe was one of many businesses in the county which was battered by the floods in February after the River Severn twice burst its banks.

Huge barriers were put up along the Wharfage in Ironbridge to try and stop the water getting into peoples homes and businesses but Coalbrookdale was one of several areas to suffer badly in Shropshire's worst flooding for 20 years.

Defra secretary George Eustice visited the town and said a long-term solution needs to be put in place to protect towns where the river runs along and through.

A parliamentary flooding group has since been set up by Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski involving MPs from constituencies along the Severn in an effort to tackle the issues of repeated flooding and measures that need to be put in place for residents and businesses.