The work took more than eight hours to finish

Workers spent more than eight hours putting up the temporary defences on Hylton Road, causing delays to drivers in the city.

Pumps were needed to remove water that was seeping under the barriers.

Mary Dhonau, from Worcester Action Against Flooding, said the council should have made sure the defences went up overnight.

Workers 'willing'

"I know the Environment Agency made the request to put up the barriers last night under floodlights

"The workmen - I've talked to them - they were willing to do it under floodlights.

"As it is, the men are kneeling in floodwater to put the barriers up," she said.

The work began at 0700 GMT and was not completed for more than eight hours.

The River Severn is expected to peak in Worcester on Saturday

Peter May from the Environment Agency told BBC Midlands Today that the Hylton Road barriers would not protect everybody.

"I think that property will flood on the other bank at the low levels - Pitchcroft, Waterworks Road.

"Whether or not it reaches the Digless Avenue properties at the higher level, we'll have to wait and see."

The River Severn is predicted to peak in Worcester late on Saturday night or Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, Hereford's MP Paul Keetch has been meeting the Environment Agency to discuss flood defences for the city.

Traffic chaos

He said afterwards that he hoped there would be a scheme in place within three years.

A consultant's report is due to be published in May or June and Mr Keetch says it would then be up to the government to come up with the money.

The Leader of the Commons Peter Hain told Mr Keetch on Thursday that the situation in Hereford was being monitored by the Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett.

There was traffic chaos in the city on Wednesday night, as the River Wye spilled over its banks in several areas closing some roads.