A PUB near Ludlow has managed to escape devastating flooding after its new flood defences kicked in.

Water surrounded the Lion in Leintwardine, just across the border in Herefordshire, with pictures showing flood defences pumping water away.

It came as the river Teme burst its banks in the village after the third named storm in five days hit the county.

Flooding in previous years has forced the pub to shut but this time its flood defences prevented huge damage.

Ludlow Advertiser: The Lion pub used its flood defences to pump out water after the river Teme burst its banks. Picture: John Savery The Lion pub used its flood defences to pump out water after the river Teme burst its banks. Picture: John Savery

Supervisor Summer James said: "The pub did not flood at all because of the flood defences.

"The road to the pub was cut off for those coming from Wigmore way but those coming from Knighton and Ludlow could get to us."

Ludlow Advertiser: The river level is falling after peaking at around 2.2 metres. Picture: John SaveryThe river level is falling after peaking at around 2.2 metres. Picture: John Savery

The floods surrounded the pub completely on Sunday but on Tuesday it began to go down, she said.

The Lion pub remained open over the course of Storm Dudley, Storm Eunice and Storm Franklin, but flood warnings were in force for the river Teme at Leintwardine.

Ludlow Advertiser: The pub could be accessed by those coming from Knighton and Ludlow. The pub could be accessed by those coming from Knighton and Ludlow.

Hereford Times Camera Club member John Savery took pictures from the Leintwardine to Burrington road, just before Blackbridge.

Ludlow Advertiser: The river Teme flooded fields between Leintwardine and Burrington. Picture: John Savery The river Teme flooded fields between Leintwardine and Burrington. Picture: John Savery

They show the extent of the flooding, caused by the river Teme bursting its banks.

The river Teme's level in Leintwardine fell on Monday after the storms, having peaked at 2.2 metres.

According to the Environment Agency, 1.2 metres is the top of its normal range, with the current record 2.51 metres, set in February 2020.

Ludlow Advertiser: The river Teme through Leintwardine, near Ludlow, where a flood warning has been issued. Picture: John Savery The river Teme through Leintwardine, near Ludlow, where a flood warning has been issued. Picture: John Savery

The agency's monitoring station was also flooded in the area, and the gauge was temporarily offline over the weekend.

This meant the current river levels were unable to be read and monitored accurately at the time.