Vic Haddock leans out of his kitchen window and shrugs his shoulders as a pump does its best to clear floodwater out of his riverside cottage.
It is the fourth time the River Severn has burst its banks, sending water gushing into his picture-perfect home in Ironbridge.
The 62-year-old, who runs a canoe hire business in the Shropshire village, says he will never leave his idyllic cottage.
But he admits the constant worry about whether it will end up knee-deep in water has taken its toll.
And he is furious with the Environment Agency, which he says he repeatedly failed to protect his home.
The Mirror spent the morning speaking to locals in Ironbridge, which remains under a ‘danger to life’ flood warning.
Experts say river levels on the River Severn are due to peak this evening, threatening to breach temporary barriers.
But for those living in a small number of cottages on the south side of the river, it is already too late.
It is not cost-effective for the houses to be protected by flood barriers, so they face the full force of the River Severn.
Vic told the Mirror: “It’s soul-destroying. We know what’s coming, but time and time again we can’t do anything about it.
“We accept the garden will flood and the boathouse will flood, but it’s not acceptable that our homes keep flooding.
“We’ve got several inches of water inside. We’re holding most of it back with pumps but levels are due to rise further.
“I blame the Government department in charge of the environment, not Boris Johnson personally.
“The council needs more money to protect our homes on this side of the river.”
Asked what could be done to stop flooding in the future, he sighed and said: “It feels like I’m wasting my breath.
“We keep asking them to dredge the river and time and time again they do nothing.
“They should come and look at my house and see what it’s like for ordinary folk.”
One of Vic’s neighbours, who did not want to be named, told the Mirror: “We’re like sitting ducks.
“We see the forecast, we know it’s raining in the Welsh hills, and we know it will soon be in our living rooms.
“Every time it happens the politicians and councillors talk the talk but then nothing gets done.
“They just stick some sandbags in the car park and leave us to it. It’s so upsetting but what can you do?
“It’s lovely here in the summer, it’s the best place on earth, but it’s so hard to deal with the flooding.”
On the opposite side of the river, multi-million pound metal flood barriers protect the main part of Ironbridge.
Ian Chambers, 57, only moved into his home three weeks ago after quitting his teaching job.
He said: “Where I am is a little bit higher up so I’m confident I won’t get flooded.
“But it’s heartbreaking to see what is happening to other homes. I can’t imagine what they are going through.
“The barriers are doing their job, but it’s shocking that we have to resort to such safety measures each time there is a storm.
“I don’t know what the answer is, but something needs to be done. Iron bridge is a stunning place but it can’t go on.”
Further upstream in Shrewsbury, Siobhan Connor waded through the downstairs of her flooded riverside home.
She handed the Mirror shocking videos showing the scene of devastation left by the floodwaters.
It is the 17th time her home has flooded since 1997 - and she says each year it gets worse.
Siobhan told the Mirror: “These floods used to be three or so years between and not of this severity, now they are annual or bi-annual.
“The water doesn’t come over the barriers, it just comes from underneath the house, through the kitchen tiles.
“We see the forecast and know the water is on its way. The minute I see the levels going up, I know it’s going to come into our house.
“We have to move stuff upstairs but some things are too big to move, like fridges and ovens.
“I actually fear to open the door and see what has happened during the night.
“You are lucky if some stuff survives. The water this time is like sewage. It’s like a toilet bowl.
“The electrics have gone on all levels. It’s worse than ever. It’s almost above waist level.”
Siobhan slammed the government and local council for a lack of support and action.
“We’ve had one or two multi-agency meetings but nothing is being done for us,” she said.
“There has been no investment for the short-term, it’s all 20-year plans. We’ll be underwater by then.
“We need a massive investment into drainage, river flows, sewage, all these measures need to be looked at independently.
“Us flood victims need support now. I’m going to have two months of dehumidifiers
“I’m paying full council tax when I can’t use half my house.
“Who is going to want to live in Shrewsbury when this always happens? It’s not just us, it’s places all over the country.
“We don’t get any support. I don’t get calls from my council, my local MP, nothing.
“Maybe I should donate a few bottles of sewage water from my house for Boris’s next party. Maybe that will help spread the message.”
