Police investigate tractor that created ‘devastating’ wave in...

After a tractor passed through a flooded high street in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, causing a wave of water to

strike nearby businesses, shattering windows and forcing doors open, police are looking into the incident.

Police in West Mercia said they were looking into videos that appeared on social media on Sunday that showed the

tractor going through floodwaters.

The force stated that officers are in Tenbury Wells this morning talking to people whose properties and businesses

may have been impacted and looking over further camera evidence as part of their ongoing investigation into the

incident. “At this time, no arrests have been made.”

Onlookers gasp as the big green tractor ploughs through the floodwaters in the video. The phrases “Oh my good God”

and “You have not just done that, you idiot” are audible.

If it weren’t for the water smashing windows and doors, which kept the waters out, some market town shop owners

stated they don’t think they would have been severely impacted by the flooding.

Paul Birkin, the proprietor of the Crow bar, described the situation as “devastating.” “Yes, it was horrible; the water

had risen, but if it weren’t for the tractor, the pub wouldn’t have suffered any harm. Before he drove through, there

wasn’t a drop of water inside.

“He came down at that speed for whatever reason, but this business probably would have gotten away with it.”

A wave of water knocked sandbags across the room, pushing open and smashing the pub’s closed front doors and the

windows next to it.

“Yes, yesterday’s floods are awful, but we’re accustomed to them and do our best to prepare. You were unprepared

for what that individual did with the tractor, though. Birkin replied, “It was completely unnecessary.”

According to Louise Preston, who co-owns Pitter Potter pottery studio with her mother, the tractor’s wave totally

destroyed their shopfront.

“We were very fortunate because we moved everything that was low down well in advance,” she said. However, the

tractor passed through, and the resulting wave destroyed our window. Many other windows were also damaged, but I

believe ours was the only one that was totally destroyed by the water’s sheer force.

It was moving quite quickly. It was just the wave that struck the building, not the object itself.

“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.”

Police investigate tractor that created ‘devastating’ wave in flooded UK town