The family of a Ludlow couple whose home was washed into the River Corve today described the frantic moments when they were forced to flee.

Sol Pearce, who is in his early 70s, and his wife Doreen, who is in her late 60s, made an SOS call to their family on Monday night just moments before water flooded their home. The property crumbled yesterday.

Mr and Mrs Pearce, who have lived at 57a Corve Street for 40 years, had minutes to get out as water rose to about 4ft.

Today their daughter, Anita Fury, who also lives in Ludlow, said her parents were devastated.

Mrs Fury said her mother telephoned her at 8.30pm to say that flood water was about to breach a retaining wall outside their property.

She added: “My husband and my two sons went to the property. Within half an hour the water had got in and it was up to their waist.

“There have never been any floods there before.”

Mrs Fury said her parents had little time to gather possessions. She said: “My husband and sons helped them to move a few things. But it all happened so quickly. They couldn’t bring much with them.”

Mr and Mrs Pearce were said to be heartbroken by the collapse of their home yesterday.

Their daughter said: “My father and my sons went to have a look yesterday morning. At that point the wall had gone on the bottom corner. But soon after it collapsed. It’s heartbreaking.”

We would urge people to respect our privacy. A lot of people have been there, looking at the property and gossiping.

“This property had been with our family for four decades. It is a tragic set of circumstances.”

South Shropshire District Council chief executive Graham Biggs said council engineers were monitoring the property, but there was no danger to public safety.

By Andy Richardson