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'Tractor wave ruined items saved from flood water'

BBC A woman in black framed glasses and a parka coat looking at the photographer. The photograph is a close up of her face but a room with a kitchenette area appears out of focus in the background. Her hair is tied back.BBC
Stephanie Hopkins says her business is now an "empty shell"

A business owner says her beauty clinic may never reopen after contents were destroyed by a wave caused by a tractor driving through flood water in Tenbury Wells.

Stephanie Hopkins described Eternally Ageless Aesthetics as an "empty shell" after being deluged by more than 2ft (0.6m) of water on Sunday.

She said the tractor's bow wave ruined items of furniture placed out of reach of the flood.

A 57-year-old driver was arrested and bailed on Tuesday on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving in the Worcestershire town.

Onlookers shocked as tractor driven through floodwaters in Worcestershire town

Ms Hopkins, who put her life savings into the business, said: "I can't see that we can possibly really open again.

"At this moment in time it's all very raw."

A torrent of water surged into the town after a wall holding back Kyre Brook collapsed.

Ms Hopkins, who was outside her shop on Market Street when the wall fell, described the scene as "unbelievable".

"Everybody just started to scream, 'run, run'. And it was just like a tidal wave coming down the road," she said.

"There was just absolutely nothing you could do but just watch and see the devastation."

An internal photo of a shop comprising of a doorway between two internal rooms. The concrete floor is wet and walls appear damaged, with paintwork stripped away. The front window can be seen, with artwork depicting the outline of a woman's face. Items on the windowsill include a bowl, bottle of bleach and portable radiator. A dehumidifieris on the floor.
Flood damage at Eternally Ageless Aesthetics in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire

A number of businesses have told the BBC doors and windows were smashed by the force of waves created by the tractor.

Ms Hopkins said the wave "blew open the door", breaking the locks.

"The wave hit everything we had put up high, which may have missed being ruined by the flood water," she added.

Ms Hopkins, who has spoken to police, believes the tractor driver should be held accountable for damage caused.

"Don't get me wrong, the wall breaking was the devastation and the clinic was already under water," she said.

"[But] without the tractor I think I may have been able to save my furniture.

"There's not a single thing left in the clinic, everything's gone."

Darren Thompson A drone shot of Tenbury Wells which shows brown floodwater along the two of its main streetsDarren Thompson
Dame Harriett Baldwin told MPs Tenbury Wells had flooded twice this year

The Prime Minister has vowed to provide whatever help is needed to MPs in communities affected by flooding following Storm Bert.

Dame Harriett Baldwin, the Conservative MP for West Worcestershire, told the Commons it was the second time Tenbury Wells had flooded this year.

"It's a town where it's only a case of when - not if - it will flood again," she said.

"And the situation is made even more devastating for residents because there is a fully developed flood defence plan that is partly funded for the town, and the Budget carried forward £2.4 billion for flood defences."

Sir Keir described it as "an awful situation for her constituents" and added: "We all know how devastating flooding is.

"We are committed to tackling this. That's why we set aside the money that we did in the budget and I'll happily arrange for her to have a meeting with the relevant minister to look at the particular details of her case."

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