STORM Imogen has taken a firm grip on the Forest with locals reporting fallen trees, mass flooding and power cuts.

New Cat Start Rescue in Newent has been recovering from the aftermath of Storm Henry, which caused severe flooding over the Christmas period, to find Storm Imogen is just as frightening – if not worse.

Jackie Bahooshy at New Start Cat Rescue said: “We have been flooded again. We were hit with severe flooding over the Christmas period. The main yard has been under water for several days.

“We have been flooded on a number of occasions over recent years. Our experience became so bad that a few years ago we built a set of walls around parts of the rescue centre to try and protect the cats that we rescue and care for.

“We have even gone as far as digging extra trenches around the buildings to try and keep the water away. However, in spite, of this, the centre has again flooded.”

Cllr Craig Lawton (Con, Oxenhall and Newent North East) said he has contacted Gloucestershire County Council.

Cllr Lawton said: “New Start Cat Rescue has a culvert running under the road by their buildings.

“I asked highways to check that the culvert was not blocked and, if needed, to make it wider or add another one if it could not cope with the amount of water.”

Cllr Lawton added: “I have received assurances from the county council that they were going to investigate the culvert.

“They also advised me that it has become blocked in the past and required cleaning. Either they have still not got round to investigating and, if needing, cleaning out the culvert, or it really can not cope with the amount of water passing through it.

“I hoped that raising this issue would make sure the flooding would not happen again in the future, but clearly it has not.”

There were also reports of a car crash in Malswick near Newent at around 8.30am on Monday morning. All parties involved suffered minor injuries.

A fallen tree and power line blocked Bream Road in Lydney for at least five hours on Monday as Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue crews attended.

Resident Kit Spackman said: “The traffic was chaos as a result of the road being closed.”

While a motorist in Longhope warned on Facebook a tree had fallen halfway across the road near Dick Whittington Farm Park and to take care.

At least 450 homes in Lydney were still without power on Monday afternoon and the Old Severn Bridge was closed for some time due to high winds.

Both the River Severn and River Wye have reached their peaks.

The Met Office has issued amber warnings of severe weather for the South West and South Wales.