COMMUNITIES on the Somerset Levels and Moors are nervously watching the weather as the Environment Agency’s work to dredge the rivers is put to the test just days after completion.

Over the past week the region has been battered by heavy rain and strong gales, leaving groundwater levels high and some rivers nearing capacity.

The wild weather looks set to continue throughout November with the South-West already put on flood alert and more Atlantic storms forecast.

Authorities are hoping they have done enough to alleviate the risk of flooding in the area after their £6million dredging scheme designed to keep the water flowing away from homes and businesses by widening 800 metres of the River Tone and River Parrett.

Not 11 months since these main rivers burst their banks and caused some of the worst flooding in living memory, the River Parrett was less than a metre away from overflowing as it swelled up to the arch of the bridge at Burrowbridge last Thursday.

Rebecca Horsington from the flooding group FLAG said: “At the moment we aren’t too worried because the river is doing what it’s supposed to do and everything is working as it should be.

“The water is in the river and not on the moors.

“What is happening with the weather is not abnormal for this time of year but what is abnormal is people’s anxiety about this.

“Now with what has happened over the last few years people’s confidence has been knocked so they are more jumpy when they see the rivers rising.

“We are really pleased with the dredging but more needs to be done to maintain the rivers.

“What is worrying is the forecast for the amount of rain that is still to come and how the land will cope with it.”

Further down the River Parrett from Burrowbridge, residents of Moorland are beginning to feel anxious about the wet weather and rising water.

Richard Large and his wife, Joan, moved back into their Moorland bungalow in September after they were forced to evacuate as the area was swallowed up by flood water.

Speaking to the Mercury yesterday (Monday), Richard said there was an air of concern among villagers there.

“We are quite concerned, of course, but at the moment the river is about three metres from going over so there is no immediate threat here.

“As for the coming weeks it all depends whether or not the Environment Agency keeps to the emergency plan – we will have about five days notice should the worst happen.”