Restaurant left in "dire straits" during floods is applying for government funding

Ann Hayward and Nicola Hollins, who run The Wheelhouse Marina Bar and Restaurant, said they had lost thousands of pounds of custom after flooding forced the closure of the road outside Tingdene Marina.

They will be applying for the grant on Tuesday and hope it will help recoup the financial loss they made during last month's floods.

Usually the restaurant is visited by between 50 to 100 customers a day but during the floods they were serving only one or two people in the restaurant.

Food and barrels of beer had to be thrown away and, despite having over 20 tables booked , they had to cancel a Valentine's Day event because people could not reach the marina.

Worcestershire County Council said the road had to be closed because it was badly flooded and was re-opened as soon as it was safe to do so.

Prime minister David Cameron visited the town on Monday, February 17 and announced a £10 million fund to help businesses recover.

Ms Hayward said: "We are kind of back to normal now and most of our customers have returned.

"We got in touch with Harriet Baldwin and her secretary sent us lots of links for government compensation which we hope will help replace the money we lost during the floods.

"We have a band playing this Saturday and a St Patrick's Day party on March 16 which we hope will bring more people out to see us.

"After the article ran in the Worcester News we had people coming in saying they had read it and wanted to support us which was great."

During the floods, Ms Hayward said they decided to open The Wheelhouse for their regulars and people living on boats in the marina who were stranded by the floods.

For more information or to apply for funding log on to www.worcestershire.gov.uk and search flood fund.

Enquiries and requests for a pack can be made by calling 0300 123 1440 during working hours or by emailing info@business-central.co.uk.

Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 21.