STOURBRIDGE'S Bonded Warehouse and canalside businesses were this week still mopping up after freak flash floods turned Canal Street into a water world.

The Grade II listed building and neighbouring businesses were swamped by last Thursday's torrential rain storm after the Stourbridge Canal overflowed and the River Stour burst its banks.

It's not the first time the area has been hit by flooding – Stourbridge Navigation Trust, which runs the historic Bonded Warehouse, suffered thousands of pounds worth of damage eight years ago after heavy rainfall caused a similar scenario. But this time – it was far worse.

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Stourbridge councillor Nic Barlow, a volunteer with the trust, said: “It’s awful. It’s caused quite a bit of devastation. It’s done a lot of damage to the main office, the kitchen area was all damaged and the warehouse basement was all flooded. It’s an absolute bombsite.

“It’s one of those rare occurrences with the torrential rain we had on Thursday night. It was incredible.

“It’s just something you don’t expect. People say the council aren’t cleaning the drains but when you get a downpour and drains can’t cope with it – you are going to have these patches of localised flooding.”

He added: “We’ve just been cleaning everything as much as we can, we’re waiting for professionals to do a deep clean.”

David Caunt, chairman of the trust, described the aftermath as “depressing” and he said the flooding had hit harder this time than it did eight years ago.

It even knocked down an entire section of wall alongside the canal - such was the force of the water.

He said. “The canal was over the towpath and the river was over the wall. The people who were on the boats were a bit panicky.”

But he stressed The Bonded Warehouse, which is used by numerous community groups to hold meetings and events, was already getting back to business this week – with trip boats due to resume service yesterday (Wednesday).

The flood also wreaked havoc for dry dock owner Andy Downing who was too upset to talk about the incident - and four cars parked near the canal have also reportedly been written off.

Newly-opened rehearsal rooms Clash City Rehearsals, which opened in Canal Street just four weeks ago, also fell victim to the flood waters.

Owner Dave Powell said: “It was shocking. It was like a lake outside. I don’t think it’s ever been that bad here. We started sweeping it out but just gave up when it came up inside through the drain.”

He said before moving in he’d been informed a flood of such magnitude was likely once every hundred years.

Mr Powell, who also runs Grandad's Attic – based upstairs above the rehearsal rooms, added: “It’s a bit disheartening – but we’re still open for business.”

Councillor Hilary Bills, Dudley’s cabinet member for environmental services, said: “Last Thursday saw some of the most torrential rain in memory, with an average of three inches of rain in 24 hours.”

She said the authority was alerted to deal with 13 flooded streets and around 100 properties and she said Stourbridge, Brierley Hill, Quarry Bank and Halesowen were affected most.