Police are investigating after a tractor drove through a flooded high street in Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire, triggering a wave of water that hit local businesses, smashing windows and knocking doors open.
West Mercia police said they were aware of videos on social media showing the tractor driving through the flood water on Sunday and that they were investigating.
“We’re actively investigating the incident and officers are in Tenbury Wells this morning speaking to people whose businesses and properties may have been affected, as well as reviewing additional video footage,” the force said. “No arrests have been made at this time.”
Video footage shows the large green tractor ploughing through the flood waters as onlookers gasp. People can be heard saying: “Oh my good God,” and: “You have not just done that, you idiot.”
Some business owners in the market town said they did not think they would have been badly affected by the flooding if not for the water smashing windows and doors, which were keeping the waters out.
Others said they had already been flooded, but the wave worsened the damage.
“It’s devastating, that’s the only word for it,” said Paul Birkin, the owner of the Crow pub. “Yes it was bad, the water had come up, but nothing would have happened to the pub if it wasn’t for the tractor. There wasn’t a drop of water in here until he drove through.
“This business would have probably got away with it but he came down, for whatever reason, at that speed.”
The locked front doors of the pub were pushed open and smashed, along with the windows next to it, with the wave of water knocking sandbags across the room.
“What happened yesterday – yes the floods are terrible, we are used to that, we prepare the best we can. But nothing could prepare you for what that person did with the tractor. It was totally unnecessary,” Birkin said.
Louise Preston, who owns Pitter Potter pottery studio with her mother, said their shop window was completely knocked out by the tractor’s wave.
“We moved everything that was low down well in advance, so we were quite lucky,” she said. “But the tractor drove through and the wave that it created knocked out our window – it also smashed a lot of other windows but I think ours was the only one that got completely knocked out with the sheer force of the water.
“It was going quite fast. It didn’t actually make contact with the building, it was just the wave.”
The main street through Tenbury Wells was submerged under several feet of water after the Kyre Brook rose and a wall holding back the flood waters collapsed.
Stephanie Hopkins and Nick Harrold, the co-owners of the beauty business Eternally Ageless Aesthetics, stood in a gutted shop coming to terms with the damage caused.
Flood water had gushed through the back wall of the shop when the wall broke, and then more water entered through the front door, which was smashed open by the tractor.
“They’re the lowest person in Tenbury right now – look at the damage it has caused,” said Harrold, gesturing to a broken lock on the doorframe. “That’s certainly not flood damage is it, that’s the impact of the tidal wave. It washed all the defence barriers away.
“It’s just total devastation, and possibly the end of the business. We couldn’t get insurance, it was just too dear. And we paid £15,000 of our own money to get it set up.”
“We just don’t have the money to put back into the business,” said Hopkins, as she flicked through photographs of the previously pristine shop, which they set up 18 months ago.
Laura Jones stood assessing the £20,000 worth of shop fittings and stock piled in a muddy heap outside her art supply and craft shop, Rainbow Crafts by Laura.
“Our dream is just gone. We won’t be able to come back from this,” she said. “We were still in the shop on Sunday trying to get out as much as we could and the fireman just said, ‘Get out quick, the wall has gone.’ We had to run for it.
“Then with the other problem of the tractor going through, it forced the door open. The water was above my husband’s waist when he tried to shut the door. It was just so stupid.”