Today is the tenth anniversary of one of the biggest natural disasters Gloucestershire has ever seen.

The Great Flood deluged the county on Friday, July 20, 2007 leaving much of Gloucestershire under a sea of muddy water.

The impact of the disaster, caused by continual abnormally heavy rain, high river levels and drainage systems that simply could not cope, left thousands of travellers stranded and homes under water.

But worse was to come. Severn Trent's Mythe water treatment works at Tewkesbury was flooded leaving 140,000 properties without mains drinking water for up to 17 days.

The army was called in to distribute bottled water and Walham electricity switching station was also under threat from the floods. Only the heroic struggle of the emergency services saved it from going under.

Had the power gone off there were even plans for the mass evacuation of the elderly and vulnerable to safer counties.

In all, around 6,000 homes and over 1,000 businesses in Gloucestershire were flooded-some would never recover.

The 2007 flood was a busy time for insurers like Gloucester-based Ecclesiastical who were called upon to support a host of customers - from Tewkesbury Abbey to parish churches, care homes, schools and home owners.

A special Cathedral Service has been arranged for Tuesday 25th July at 5.30pm when many of the individuals and organisations involved in the 2007 Flood will be present. The service is open to the public and is being supported by Severn Trent and National Grid.

Gloucester's Carnival, which was postponed in 2007 because of the floods, will include an open top bus of key figures and fire service appliances will also take part in the procession.

A report has highlighted key actions taken by the various parties since 2007 to guard against a recurrence. This includes dozens of floods alleviation schemes by district and county councils, the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water, as well as measures by National Grid to protect the Walham Power Station which was two inches away from flooding in 2007.

City Council Leader Paul James, who had only been in post for two months when the floods hit, said, "I felt it was right that we marked the anniversary but it's important that it is done in an appropriate way.

" People lost their lives due to what happened and thousands had their homes devastated, so memories of those events will be painful for many. The great determination and community spirit which came out of it is a real positive and we must not lose sight of that. I hope lots of people will come to the Cathedral Service and watch the carnival procession."

The Very Revd Stephen Lake, Dean of Gloucester, said: "The floods a decade ago were one of the most significant events of this generation so it is only right that the community comes together at its most significant place to reflect and to pray. All are welcome."

Gloucester MP Richard Graham has welcomed £100,000 of funding to boost a flood defence project in the city.

The MP said: "Major flooding hit our county on 20th July 2007 impacting thousands of homes. This funding and other projects like it that have been carried out over the past 10 years are crucial in ensuring that we never again lose lives or homes to flooding."

The project aims to improve flood protection for over 1,000 homes in Abbeydale, Saintbridge and Upton St Leonards from potential flooding from the River Twyver. It flooded badly in 2007, in both Saintbridge and beside the Tredworth Cemetery.

Richard Graham said: "Further investment here, not least at the balancing and Saintbridge ponds, would be very welcome."

Environment minister Thérèse Coffey said: "Flood defence technology and engineering is better than ever and this work should help protect families, homes and businesses from flooding, with environmental benefits to the wider area and people live in Gloucester."

Picture: St Michael and All Angels Church in Tirley was severely flood. Insurer Ecclesiastical organised a stunning and sympathetic restoration and introduced measures to make it more resilient to floods in the future.