Dozens of Worcester City Council employees and volunteers, including relatives of council workers, have joined together since Friday to combat the effects of the worst floods to hit the city since 1947.

Two council-run rest centres were set up and staffed by workers and volunteers who gave up their weekend to come to the aid of stranded travellers and people who had been driven from their homes by the encroaching water. Two local businesses, the Three Pears restaurant at Warndon and Fownes Hotel in the city centre, generously opened their doors and gave hundreds of people a place to stay.

A team of 12 environmental health officers were out again today to visit flood-stricken homes and businesses, giving practical help and advice and distributing a leaflet telling people how to prepare against and deal with the effects of flooding both now and in the future. In the case of one food business, environmental health officers arranged for the specialist collection and disposal of 58 tonnes of contaminated meat.

Operational staff are continuing to clean: all roads in the city centre are now clear, except for Hylton Road . Half of Cattlemarket car park is open, but only accessible from the Croft Road entrance. Three quarters of Croft Road car park is open, but Newport Street , Tybridge Street and Pitchcroft car parks are still closed. The Park and Ride service provided by the County Council and University of Worcester for Westside residents will not be needed after today, so will cease to operate.

Worcester City Council is continuing to plan and monitor the recovery work, both current and future, and making contingency plans for any problems that might occur due to worsening weather later in the week.

Where we have spare capacity, we are donating resources to other councils who are still suffering. Gloucester was given materials to assist in protecting its electricity power station, and help has also been given to Malvern and Wychavon councils.

Councillor Simon Geraghty , Leader of Worcester City Council, said: “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our employees, and the goodwill of citizens and local businesses, we are slowly but surely getting back to normal. It is wonderful to see the way in which everyone in Worcester pulls together when something like this happens. We will continue to work hard to help residents and businesses affected by flooding, and we want to make sure that everyone who needs help gets it – all you have to do is ring the Contact Centre on 01905 722233, and they’ll make sure you get through to the right person.”