Volunteers help flood-hit Shrewsbury showground get set for BBC Bargain Hunt
Some 30 volunteers responded to the West Mid Showground's call to help them dust themselves off and start all over again following recent flooding.
With the BBC's Bargain Hunt antiques show set to descend on the Shrewsbury site next weekend during an antiques fair there, the imperative on Saturday was to get the area looking reasonable for the cameras.
Another Community Clean-up Day is set to be organised in a couple of weeks to complete more jobs.
Damage from February's inundation is estimated to have cost at least £10,000 to the uninsured coffers of the Shropshire and West Midlands Agricultural Society.
"That's probably the equivalent of three or four events before we even start," said Ian Bebbington, the society’s chief executive.
"When I talk to people in the summer and the River Severn is looking all nice and calm, they can't believe how much we flood. The amount of water is phenomenal."
When the site flooded in 2020 the damage was estimated at £15,000 but this time they were more prepared.
The volunteers who turned up on Saturday completed much of the mopping, sweeping, cleaning, shifting of flood debris and removing damaged goods. Electrics bore the brunt and will need replacing.
"We are getting there," said Mr Bebbington.
"We have the antiques event with Bargain Hunt next weekend, so we wanted to make sure the site is presentable for that but there is still plenty to do."
He added: "We dust ourselves down and go all over again... I seem to say that every year now."
