'PETRIFIED’ families in Halesowen were perilously close having thier homes flooded last weekend.

The flood warning level was raised to ‘High Risk’ on Sunday morning and sandbags were piled high as water levels were only two feet away from flooding hundreds of houses in the Honeybourne Road area.

Halesowen Flood Management Committee chairman Katharine Baker-Scully said: “Petrified residents woke up on Sunday to find the Brook had burst its banks and there was a state of panic for several hours until things calmed down in the late afternoon.”

“Dudley Council had to bring over supplies of sandbags to residents because the water was getting higher and higher.”

And Mrs Baker-Scully believed the recent tragic events in Cockermouth were at the forefront of people’s minds as they saw the water rising.

Honeybourne Road, Woodman Road, Woodman Close, Chadbury Road and Halesmere Way were all in danger of being deluged by water.

Environment Agency officers were also on the scene ensuring everything was being done to avert danger.

The area was hit with floods last year and since then a new flood warden system has been implemented which was tested for the first time on Sunday.

Mrs Baker-Scully, who was a flood warden on the day, said: “The new flood warning system worked really well and as wardens we ensured all the right agencies were informed immediately of the potential dangers and they responded very quickly.

“It is very important for residents and the authorities are informed about the danger of flooding as soon as possible.”

The Halesowen Flood Management Committee is holding an open meeting at Manor Primary School on Thursday, February 4 to bring together residents, councillors and officials to discuss combating the flooding problems that the area faces.