Newport was hit by flash flooding last night as storms rolled across the county. Drains couldn't cope, pavements were over-topped and homes and gardens flooded.

Cllr Tim Nelson, whose garden was flooded in the storm, said:

My deepest sympathies go out to those homes and businesses affected by the terrible storms and downpour yesterday. We have seen this epic and worrying rain more and more recently, it is now countrywide, if not worldwide.

Our drainage system was just not built to cope with so much water, in a short space of time. We have been warned about climate change, I sponsored Newport Town Council's climate emergency resolution some years ago.

I serve on Telford & Wrekin's Environment Scrutiny Committee, and whilst still looking at climate mitigation measures such as emissions, we are moving to adaptation. Rain like yesterday will unfortunately happen again.

Myself and colleagues will be looking today at what reasonable and sustainable measures Newport Town Council can and should take.

The Labour administration at Telford & Wrekin Council recently voted through their local plan which will see thousands of houses built on land that is part of the catchment area for the River Strine. Concrete and tarmac don't store rain water and attenuation ponds simply aren't good enough to replace all of that lost capacity. There is nothing sustainable about Labour's so-called "sustainable urban extensions".