A pilot study has used computer models to understand how the river's size and nature may be altered by climate change or new land use.

The Environment Agency began the report after the floods of 2000 which caused extensive damage to towns and villages in the Severn's area.

A spokesman said new ways of managing floods were needed.

The scheme looked at the entire River Severn area, from its source in the Welsh mountains down to Gloucester.

Project manager Loreta Adams said: "The standard of protection given to some of the worst-affected communities is higher than it was in 2000."

New flood defences have been built in Shrewsbury and Bewdley and existing ones, in Llandrinio and Sedgebarrow, improved.

"We also led the way with successful trials of innovative temporary defence barriers in Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Worcester," she said.

She added engineering alone would not help and the report would help the agency develop new ways of flood management.