WET weather threatened to wash away large parts of the flood bank on the River Frome at Wareham, it has emerged.

Around 30 volunteers worked to stop the flood bank, and parts of the Redcliffe path, being damaged, between Wareham South Bridge and the Redclyffe Yacht Club.

John Scott, development manager at the Wareham & District Development Trust, has since thanked all those who helped carry out the emergency work on January 20.

He explained: “The incredibly bad weather that we have suffered over the past weeks turned the whole of the Lower Frome Valley into a giant lake, and that – coupled with the force and direction of the wind – resulted in wave action attacking the flood bank on the opposite side of the river itself.”

After putting the call out for volunteers, 30 people arrived from the local community, equipped with shovels and wheel barrows, said John.

He added: “Sixty tonnes of ‘hoggin’ was donated by Pete Andrews of Andrews Plant Hire and Wayne Turner came along with a mechanical digger from Turners Plant Hire.

“David Watkins-Jones, Anvil Grounds Maintenance, joined us with his workforce.

“All the work carried out was done under the watchful eye of Malcolm Munro of the Environment Agency.