A FURIOUS Halesowen councillor is calling for an inquiry after a council out-of-hours phone line failed to cope with the volume of calls during last Thursday’s flash floods.

Residents and motorists were “frustrated” when they could not even leave a message when they rang to report floods.

A public-spirited driver took matters in his own hands, stopping vehicles approaching a flood in Hurst Green Road and trying to free the blocked drain.

Halesowen North councillor Karen Shakespeare said the council should have been better prepared with more staff manning the phones.

She was appalled to be told the motorist who took charge in Hurst Green Road did so because he could not get a response from the council, the police or fire service.

Cllr Shakespeare said: “I understand council staff were working flat out, but people were frustrated that they couldn’t get anyone to speak to them.

“I know demand was high, but the council should have had more staff on. People expect a service that responds to their needs.”

Hurst Green Road started flooding at about 4.30pm and vehicles and a bus got stuck. The water had subsided by the following morning.