A man dubbed ‘Worcester's King Canute’ after building his own flood defences to protect his £600,000 home has shared his tips on how to "stop the tide".

Nick Lupton, 60, won the admiration of his neighbours when he kept his 17th century property safe by surrounding it with a wall and pumps last winter.

Mr Lupton and his wife Annie, 50, bought the house in the pretty village of Pixham, in 2016, but it has been anything but plain sailing.

Despite commanding stunning views of the River Severn, the house and gardens have flooded 11 times in just eight years. 

Mr Lupton, a retired mechanical engineer, decided to take action last summer to avoid the couple’s beloved home being deluged again.

SAFE: Nick and Annie Upton behind the flood barrier at their home in Pixham near WorcesterSAFE: Nick and Annie Lupton behind the flood barrier at their home in Pixham near Worcester (Image: Nick Lupton/SWNS)

He constructed a reinforced wall around the 340ft (103m) perimeter of the garden.

It was built 4.5ft in height – 30cm higher than the highest previous flood which reached 4ft.

The couple started building the wall last May, while also installing dam boards on the front and back doors as extra protection.

Since its construction, the wall has successfully withstood three floods and has been instrumental in protecting the house structure.

Mr Lupton said: “For us, the wall has been a complete game changer.

"When flooding occurs, we now have a dry layer of land between the house and the wall giving us peace of mind."

MAROONED: Nick Upton's flood defences keeps the river Severn at bay at their home in Pixham, near WorcesterMAROONED: Nick Lupton's flood defences keeps the river Severn at bay at their home in Pixham, near Worcester (Image: Nick Lupton/SWNS)

In 2020 the couple used a government grant to shore up their home including 
installing flood barriers to their porches and fitting a puddle pump and pond vacuum to prevent it overfilling.

Following their successful DIY-flood defence last year, Mr Lupton has written an e-book offering tips to homeowners concerned about a winter deluge.

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The couple said the cost of their flood defences has been the equivalent to “a house extension” which is around £35,000.

Mr Lupton added: “Because we live so close to the river we needed to take lots of measures to protect our home but it’s been worth the effort."

The Great Wall of Pixham can be downloaded from the floodmary.com website.

NICK’S FLOODING TIPS

1.Keep white goods on raised plinths to avoid the risk of water damage
2.Non-return valve in sewer pipe to avoid toilet waste being pumped back into the property.
3.Electrical sockets on the ground floor raised a few feet  
4.Sump/pump to remove water from the property quickly and easily
5.Have self-closing air vents on the ground floor as it's one of the easiest ways water enters a home
6.A Kitemarked flood door to help seal the entrance
7.Kitchen units raised on plinths and made from either metal or marine ply
8.All sentimental, important items and documents kept upstairs and high value items kept on high shelves.
9.Separate electrical circuits for upper and lower floors to avoid shorts 
10.Flood barriers on the outside of the property