Two households in Bridgnorth have been forced to spend thousands of pounds of their own money on building flood barriers because official defences have not been put up.

The barriers, which take about an hour-and-a-half to put up, can hold back floodwaters nearly a metre high.

Tim Bradburn, who lives at River View Cottage, by the Bylet, has spent £7,000 on getting his own flood barriers constructed after his home was flooded in 2000.

He said today: “Me and my neighbour were very badly affected by the 2000 floods. I was out of my house for about a year.

“So after that we contacted a private business and had the barriers purposely built for our properties.

“We’ve had no help from the council or insurance companies.

“The barriers were quite a large investment of £7,000 because I had to have my drive altered as well for the barriers.

“But we haven’t been flooded since we’ve had them.”

The barriers go across Mr Bradburn’s driveway and fold away when they are not needed.

Mr Bradburn said he put the barriers up on Monday of this week and they will remain there until the threat of flooding has died down.

He added: “It annoys me that whenever the River Severn floods, everywhere else gets a mention but poor old Bridgnorth.

“The whole town is ignored but the flooding does affect people in Bridgnorth and that’s the problem.”

Mr Bradburn has lived at the property since 1999 and has to park his car somewhere else when the barriers are up.

A spokeswoman from the Environment Agency said: “The Government property scoring system in Bridgnorth states that it is not currently economically viable for permanent flood defences.

“Temporary barriers are not suitable for the geography, but this is being kept under review.”

By Rachael Lowe