A STRETCH of road in Upton-upon-Severn could be raised to beat floodwater and allow business to carry on when the river bursts its banks.

Sir Michael Spicer, MP for West Worcestershire, says the Minister for Floods is sending a letter of support for the plan to the Department of Transport.

The Minister, Elliot Morley, met Sir Michael on Monday, together with local councillors and other officials, including representatives from the Malvern Hills Highways Partnership and Malvern Hills District Council.

The primary focus of the visit was to seek Mr Morley's assistance in raising the A4104 between Upton Bridge and Upton Marina. The town is cut off when the River Severn bursts its banks.

Flooding in Kempsey was also on the agenda because homes in Church Street are swamped when a nearby brook floods.

"We reminded the Minister of the fact the Deputy Prime Minister had made his promise of £51m for flood alleviation when he visited Upton-upon-Severn and that it was therefore right that some of this money should be spent solving problems around Upton," said Sir Michael.

"I'm pleased to say that the Minister offered to write a letter of support for the raising of the A4104 to his colleague in the Department of Transport.

"He also confirmed, so far as Kempsey was concern, that new criteria were being worked out for assessing the cost effectiveness of flood alleviation measures.

"I very much hope this will mean that a new assessment is made of how help can be provided to prevent severe flooding in Kempsey.

"This was a useful first step in what will no doubt be a long drawn out struggle to win the necessary financial support for flooding problems in both Upton and Kempsey."