The Environment Agency, Shropshire County Council and Bridgnorth District Council also told residents the first stage of a feasibility study had been completed.

And Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard – who called the meeting at The Red House – vowed to call an “urgent” summit with Secretary of State David Milliband to unlock Government funding for flood defences.

The meeting heard the village had suffered problems with flooding for about 30 years but the problem came to a head on July 4 this year, when flash floods wrecked homes and left some residents homeless.

Bushfield Road resident David Corden said he and his wife and two small children were still lodging with relatives because they were unable to return to their home more than two months after the floods.

He said: “I’ve not heard anything this evening that assures me Station Road isn’t going to flood again and that worries me.”

Brenda Williams, of Woodland Close, added: “We’ve lost everything and we’re living in Ironbridge in a corporate apartment.”

Chris Butler, of Telford & Wrekin Consultancy, said the “dreadful events” of July 4 were caused by three inches of rainfall falling in a very short period of time. This – combined with raising levels of Albrighton Brook – exceeded the capacity of sewers, the brook and highway drainage systems.

Gren Messham, director of asset management of Severn Trent Water said work expected to cost more than £2 million would be carried out to increase the size of the pumps at the Barrington Close pumping station and on the surface water drainage system on the Bushfields estate.

Councillor Malcolm Pate, leader of Shropshire County Council, said it was “critical” action was taken to resolve the problems before more homes were built.

Mr Pritchard said: “The option that would not be acceptable is no change.”

By Becky Parkinson

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