Skip to content

Communities help out in Storm Darragh chaos

BBC A man with spikey brown hair and it wearing glasses. He is smiling and has a beard. He wears a dark jacket with a black hoodie underneath. He is standing in front of a bar inside a pubBBC
The George and Dragon Pub Inn in Much Wenlock has said it will offer food, drink and electricity to those impacted

Venues including a pub and a Sikh temple have opened their doors to people in Shropshire affected by Storm Darragh.

The George and Dragon Inn, in Much Wenlock, let locals use its space as a "warm hub" offering a free hot drink and a place to charge their electronics, while a gurdwara in Telford has welcomed those hit by power cuts.

The charitable gesture came after nearly 2,000 homes were left without electricity by the storm.

Pub landlord Ben Stanford said: "We thought, because we could, we should. We managed to rope in few team members and put up some chargers so people can charge their kits."

The pub wanted to give people somewhere to escape to and avoid feeling "fed up, just siting and staring at the same four walls."

Local bakeries and business also lent a helping hand and donated food.

"We've been given some cake from another local business, because their fridges were out over the weekend."

Councillor Rachael Tyrrell with shoulder length blonde hair. She is wearing a blue and black zebra print scarf, a black blazer and a green t-shirt underneath.
Ms Tyrrell said communities had rallied round

A few residents in St George's and Priorslee, Telford, had been without running water since Saturday after the storm affected a water pump in the area.

Councillor Rachael Tyrrell said the "desperate situation" triggered an outpouring of support from the community.

"Telford Gurdwara has said it will continue to offer food and a warm place to anyone who is without water.

"It doesn't matter what race or faith you are, everyone is welcome here.

"That's one thing we're great at.. a great example of the community coming together and helping out."

Andy Booth with brown hair and a brown beard. He is wearing a black shirt underneath a green, cream and black checked shirt and standing in front of shelves full of goods.
Andy Booth from Pink Moon Creations said the drop in footfall was "worrying"

Businesses are also reeling from the affects of the weekend.

Andy Booth from the gift store Pink Moon Creations, Coleham in Shrewsbury, said flooding had more than halved its footfall, causing major concern in the run-up to Christmas.

"Because of the road closure, not as many people are walking past... it's quite worrying."

The Environment Agency (EA) has set up barriers at Coleham Head in Shrewsbury and Shropshire Council warned drivers to avoid nearby roads on Monday.

There were 15 flood warnings still in force in Shropshire on Monday evening and eight flood alerts.

Telford and Wrekin Council said nearly 90 trees were brought down in the borough.

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

More on this story
Related internet links