2007 flood anniversary: Are we better prepared for bad weather?

  • Video of the floods in 2007

10 years ago, thousands of people were dealing with the aftermath of some of the worst floods for generations.

Heavy rain storms saw the rivers rise across the Midlands, but the ground was already so wet the water had nowhere to go and flooded thousands of properties.

ITV News Central has been back to see the towns and people who were badly affected to see what measures have been put in place to protect them from future flooding.

In Tewkesbury, the water flooded John and Marion Badham's home. They now have floodgates they can deploy at the first sign of the rivers rising.

The Environment Agency has spent millions on new flood defences along rivers in the Midlands, including Upton upon Severn, which regularly flooded.

Dave Throup from the agency explains what measures have put in place to try and protect properties from future flooding.