Pensioner Pat Freer, 82, watches rising floodwaters of Storm Dennis to declare: We do live in Riverside after all

Stoic octogenarian Pat Freer watched the floodwaters courtesy of Storm Dennis lap the drive of her Witherley bungalow to announce: I've seen it worse.

But to be fair to the 82-year-old – it's only been beaten by one other rollover of the River Anker in nearly two decades of living in the aptly-named Riverside.

She posed for Atherstone Nub News to show the devastating effects of the burst river banks of the village on the outskirts of Atherstone.

She said: "I feel for my neighbours further up the street. They will get it worse if the floodwaters rise anymore.

"This is the second worst it's been in the 18 years we've lived here."

Mrs Freer said she thought sandbags wouldn't be necessary as 24 hours of continuous rain from Storm Dennis brought three red alert 'act' warnings to Atherstone and district – and effectively cut off Witherley from the outside world.

The government warnings told local householders to take immediate action and "move upstairs" if their homes fell in the path of flooding from the storm.

Householders were told to turn off gas, water and electricity; move valuables to upper floors if possible; and ensure family members, pets and vehicles are "taken to safety".

Two rivers that impact on the district have been highlighted among 21 currently 'live' Government warnings where flood is "expected" and are being updated on a minute-by-minute basis. Record rainfall has now fallen in the last 48 hours, although the floodwaters had startd to recede on Monday monring.

The River Anker which passes Atherstone, Mancetter and Witherly as well as Grendon and Bradley Green has been handed the red triangle 'act' warning in two places as well as a stretch of the River Sence from Temple Mill to Sheepy Magna – two miles up the road from the town – which normally meanders through the villages of Pinwall and Ratcliffe Culey.

The Atherstone Nub News braved the floodwaters – but didn't go through them as advised by Warwickshire Fire & Rescue service – to bring you pictures of the district underwater.

Apart from Witherley, drivers on Ratcliffe Road, Atherstone heading towards Pinwall were faced with floodwaters from the Anker's burst banks that should have stopped vehicles in their tracks – but some motorists persisted against the odds, and advice.

Earlier on Sunday Witherley villagers faced a major health fallout of raw sewage mixed in the rising floodwaters as the storm passed across the district.

Effectively cut off, it didn't stop 4 x 4 and other drivers further "upsetting" residents by ignoring warning signs and ploughing through impassable country roads.

Parish council chairman Brian Conway told Nub News a temporary arrangement to pump sewage overground, where the underground pipe has collapsed, had been "overwhelmed".

He said: "As a result, raw sewage is mixed in with the floodwater on Atterton Lane."

And to add insult to injury, Councillor Conway added: "The 4 x 4s are ignoring flood signs as they always do – and driving through it, much to the consternation of the residents.

"It is upsetting."

Bright sunshine brought an uneasy calm to the area mid-afternoon on Sunday but the torrential rain returned in the evening to renew fears of more flooding.

To view more images from the floods, click on the arrows either side of the main picture above the story and follow the white dots.