SIR,

I lived in Monmouth in 1979, at the bottom of Watery Lane three housed down from the Bailey Pitt.

The brook at the front of our house rose six foot, flooding our drive and kitchen.

My mother and I walked to work the next morning in fishing waders, taking us hour-and-a-half as the water was so deep in places (mum was a teacher at the secondary school and I worked at the dentist in Agincourt Street).

My father's car was left in the cattle market as he worked in Cardiff and was not able to drive futher than that.

Finding it flooded the next morning, even though the fire station at bottom of road, we didn't even dream to call them out.

The whole road just got on with the clearing up and helping each other out. We all kept the brook free of rubbish whenever it built up as it would flood in places, especially under the bridges.

But that was the joy of living in Watery Lane. I would move back tomorrow.

Bridget Weatherdon

(Ledbury)