THIS week marks a decade since devastating floods brought Worcestershire to its knees .

2007 was Britain's wettest May to July since records began in 1776, causing destruction across the county.

Over the next two weeks, we are looking back at the floods and how things have changed since.

Here in the third piece, we focus on how businesses were affected.

THE floods of July 2007 were devastating for Worcestershire businesses who had to rebuild in the aftermath.

What made it even tougher for county firms was that flooded roads left many communities stranded for days after the deluge of July 20, with them not being able to trade properly until the floodwaters receded.

Worcestershire's economy suffered with the damage to businesses, as well as disruption of the highway and transport infrastructures, bringing costs totalling millions of pounds.

One of the businesses majorly hit was the Blue Bell pub, in Callow End.

Landlord and landlady Sue and Michael Donohue had only taken over the pub sixth months earlier before the rain came, with water gushing in and flooding the pub.

The couple’s lounge, bar and cellar were all quickly ruined by floodwater, and Mrs Donohue remembers it being a "nightmare".

"I spent Saturday pulling up flooded carpets, cleaning up the damage," she said.

"At the same time we had opened our doors and invited people in.

"We were helping people find accommodation and car hire firms.

"People also brought their pets in, in cages, just to get out the rain."

Mrs Donohuea also spent time slowing traffic through the village, as everytime a vehicle drove past it created a tidal wave.

The landlady said it took weeks for the pub to dry out, so they could then have a refurbishment.

"We were forced to close for three months, reopening in the October," she said.

"We had the other major flooding in 2010, it was like no one learned the lessons.

"But we are doing really well now. We turned it round - in life, what you put in you get out.

"We are rated excellent by reviewers today."

Droitwich businesses particularly suffered, when water poured into the Saltway and High Street, flooding businesses.

Ron Patel, owner of Ron's News in Queen Street, said: "It was a one in 400 storm.

"We had to think on our feet, we had to organise - it was a real test of character.

"There was a real Dunkirk spirit.

"We were very fortunate as we were reopen on the Sunday, and later operated from a mobile trailer while the shop was refitted and refurbished.

"Others were less fortunate - some were closed for 18 months. And it wasn't just businesses that flooded, there were those that lost passing trade as the High Street was closed.

"We got through it working together.

"Businesses survived, got back on their feet and are hopefully in a better position now then they were then."

Councillor Tony Miller, cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, said: "The flooding of 2007 was devastating and many Worcestershire businesses are still recovering.

"However, the county council and its partners have made significant progress in the last 10 years and the risk of flooding has been reduced for hundreds of homes, businesses and important infrastructure.

"We must not be complacent though. There is still a considerable amount of work to do in order to reduce both the likelihood and impact of flooding in the future."