Flash flood rips up road and leaves it 'like beach'

Flash flooding following a thunderstorm on Sunday has left a road looking "like a beach", with the surface being washed away to reveal sand in its wake.

Pavement was also ripped up in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, meaning part of the town centre had to be closed on safety grounds.

The surfaces came apart on Broad Street, while on Brookend Street, businesses were flooded.

An emergency meeting is to be held on Monday morning, with Herefordshire Council and its contractor Balfour Beatty set to carry out inspections.

Problems began when the storm, combined with ongoing town centre works, led to drainage issues, meaning surface water run-off could not be handled.

Town and county councillor Ed O'Driscoll said the bottom end of the town by Brookend Street was "completely covered in sand".

"It actually looks like a beach," he added.

"When the water's come down the road, it's got underneath the block paving and it's washed all the sand from underneath which has left all of the pavement completely without any underpinning."

Andy Worrall from Now and Then Antiques told BBC Hereford & Worcester that he would have to throw away a lot of the furniture from his store because of water damage.

"We got most of the water out but it has left us with a sodden floor and everything on it is soaking wet," he said.

"Most of the carpets are beyond repair, it will take an age to dry those out.

"The furniture has soaked up a lot of the water so I am afraid we are going to have to bin quite a lot of it."

Sari Walker at Little Chic estimated the flood water had reached three inches above the floor in her shop.

"We could not get in, there was a lot of water which came down quite quickly - this is the second time in four years," she recalled.

"All of the road has caved in."

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