Tractor in flooding storm is back at work after driver was arrested

A tractor used to drive through a flooded town centre causing scenes of carnage, was back to work in a field yesterday, after the farmer believed to have been behind the wheel was arrested. 

The distinct bright green vehicle was seen at a remote farm only days after sparking scenes of chaos four miles away in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, on Sunday.

The farmer previously came under fire for driving the vehicle - with identical registration plates - along the town's ravaged high street, unleashing a damaging wave of water through the flooded town. 

The swell crashed through windows and doors of businesses of the Worcestershire town after the River Teme burst its banks during Bert on Sunday, sending water into the town. 

On Wednesday, the vehicle involved was being driven by a grey-haired middle-aged man - who declined to say if he was the arrested suspect - despite quickly trying to cover his face when approached by a MailOnline reporter. 

The 57-year-old driver - who has not been named by police - was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after numerous complaints from affected locals.

He has since been released on bail pending an investigation by West Mercia Police.

While business owners were still painstakingly clearing up the wreckage in the aftermath and counting their losses, the tractor - still stained with mud marks - was being driven down a long winding lane at a farm in St Michaels. 

Fellow livestock farmer and neighbour Adeline Jones had a brief chat with the driver, who appeared to smile. 

But when he was approached by a MailOnline reporter, he turned away and attempted to screen his face before driving away to continue his duties. 

While sitting astride her quad bike, Mrs Jones said: ‘I bet the farmer is in hiding from anyone. 

'He’s out in bail and he’s half expecting anyone coming to his house to smack him in the face!

She claimed the farmer in question was 'mortified' by the incident, and was allegedly rushing to get a friends child who was stranded at a school.  

‘I know him, he’s a good person and he would do anything to help you,' Mrs Jones added. 

‘He is mortified by what has happened and almost immediately went to the police and held his hands up to being the tractor driver, and gave his insurance details.

‘He had been helping a work colleague out, whose son was at stranded at school on the other side of Leominster. 

'He was in a hurry, he was on a mission, he made a mistake.'

'Everyone is saying what a p***t he was but he was trying to be helpful,' she added: ‘The school was cut off by severe flash floods.’

Mrs Jones hit out at locals for the online abuse against her friend, saying: ‘Don’t blame him for the savage caused, it’s the local authority’s fault.

‘They were given a £5million allowance for flood defences in Tenbury but they haven’t used it wisely.

‘They put in a new flood barrier with an existing old wall which collapsed at the weekend.

‘It is a woeful lack of doing things properly by the powers that be.

‘The ineffective flood barrier let the water through the streets, wrecking shops. it was not just the tractor driver’s fault.’

Locals told how the suspect, a bachelor with no children - who MailOnline has chosen not to name - lives alone and is the only one who drives the damage-caused tractor.

One man said: ‘It’s his tractor and everyone knows him around here. He always drives it, no one else does.

‘He’s an idiot for what he did but he’s been arrested and an investigation is ongoing.

‘He’s a quiet guy and keeps himself to himself.’ 

Following furious backlash, the 57-year-old farmer has said he was ‘deeply sorry for the upset and damage caused.'

The tractor driver said in a statement posted by a pal on a community Facebook page: ‘It was not intentional or in spite.’

He has since vowed he will ‘do whatever is necessary to put things right,' after admitting: ‘I made a terrible decision.’

Mr Ham wrote: 'I have been asked to pass on a message of apology from the driver of the tractor.

'The tractor was being taken to an employee so he could use it to get through the rising floodwaters to collect his child. 

'In his rush to get it to his member of staff, he realised too late that he drove faster than he should have, and didn't consider the impact on surrounding buildings.

'He is deeply sorry for the upset and damage caused. He has spoken with police and his insurance company and will do whatever is necessary to put things right.'

A neighbour of the farmer said he 'didn't mean for this to happen - he should have gone around the town rather through it'.

Horrified locals who had begged him to stop said the massive waves he caused smashed their windows and ‘devastated’ their businesses'.

They previously branded the culprit an ‘idiot’ as some warned: ‘He better not show his face around here again!’

Louise Preston, owner of pottery shop Pitter Potter, told MailOnline how ‘tidal waves from the tractor driver’s wheels’ had smashed her windows causing flood water to pour in.

As she was still sweeping and cleaning up, she admitted: ‘The area is prone to flooding and we have measures in place. But one person driving a tractor made it a whole lot worse.

‘For mine and other businesses devastated by his actions we can make a claim from the driver’s insurance company.

‘Damage will run into hundreds and thousands of pounds.’

She added: ‘Everyone has been talking around to help, there is a great community spirit.’

A worker at a neighbouring greetings card shop said: ‘He was driving through flooded roads and smashed through plastic red barriers put there to stop people driving down.

‘The waves he created were tidal and smashed all our windows. He’s a ****head!’

A fellow farmer who knows the tractor driver told MailOnline: ‘He understands what he did was wrong and gets why people are angry with him.

‘But nothing he did was out of malice, he’s a good bloke. On this occasion he just didn’t think.’

He said the suspect, who does arable farming and lives locally, was kind hearted and would ‘give you the coat off his back and his last penny.’

Inspector Dave Wise from West Mercia Police who leads the safer neighbourhood team in Tenbury Wells, said: 'I'd like to thank everyone who brought this incident to our attention, and to the local community for their co-operation and support yesterday while we carried out initial enquiries.

'I understand the upset and anger that the incident caused, and I hope that the arrest we made yesterday evening offers reassurance that we are actively investigating it.

'Officers will continue to be out and about in Tenbury in the coming days to assist the local community and our partner agencies with recovery efforts following the flooding.'

A force spokesperson added that the suspect had been released on bail while enquiries into the incident continue.