HRH Princess Anne met people in Lydney who were badly affected by flooding caused by Storm Bert last November.

The Princess Royal also visited the innovative “vertical farm” of the Jones Food Co on the outskirts of the town and joined in the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Camphill Village Trust at Taurus Crafts which marks its 30th year.

The visit began in Newerne Street where Her Royal Highness spoke with owners and workers of businesses that were left several feet underwater by the flooding.

She was also briefed about the repair works to the Newerne Street bridge which was breached by storm water from the River Lyd and still remains partially closed.

She also spoke to emergency service workers with firefighters from Lydney fire station who told her about how they assisted people who had been flooded in a shift which lasted some 18 hours.

The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque to commemorate the flooding of Sunday, November 24 and her visit which will be attached to the bridge.

Mayor of Lydney Cllr Natasha Saunders thanked her for coming “to see the devastation from Storm Bert and the community resilience that’s helped rebuild our town.”

The Princess Royal said: “This was a very specific area having withstood an awful lot of water in the past.

“Your response was quite extraordinary and I hope people will learn the right lessons and give you the help you really need.

“There’s no doubt that the very distinct place Lydney is had its advantages in your ability to cope.

“It really impressive to see that response and I very much hope you won’t have to go through that experience again.”

Her Royal Highness then went to meet residents of the Lakeside area which was badly hit by the November flood.

Among those she met was Mrs Carol Pritchard whose house in Lakeside Avenue was flooded for the seventh time in 16 years.

Mrs Pritchard showed the princess around the ground floor of her home which remains uninhabitable.

The 82-year-old currently lives in a caravan on the drive, returning to the house to sleep.

She said November’s flood – the third in 14 months – was the worst-ever with water reaching the height of the letterbox.

Despite having floodproof doors and two pumps – which both did the job they were supposed to – the ground floor was remained underwater until the following day.

She initially decided to stay in the bedroom but after hearing “lots of creaking” she was rescued by the fire service.

Ongoing repairs include new floors, a new kitchen and walls being completely replastered.

Mrs Pritchard hopes to be able to return home in May but remains fearful that she will be flooded out again.

She said Her Royal Highness was “lovely”.

“I was surprised what a nice conversation I could have with her, she was really shocked.

“Hopefully this will do some good – I’m just hoping and praying it does because you can’t keep living like this.

“I’m absolutely positive I’ll get my house back together and it’ll happen again and it’ll keep happening until somebody does something about it.

“I’m 82 next month, I don’t want to live like this.”

The Princess was then given a tour of the Jones Food Company vertical farm at the former Federal Mogul site at Tutnalls.

The company grows salad vegetables indoors under carefully controlled conditions which uses far fewer resources than traditional farming.

For the final leg of the visit, Her Royal Highness travelled to Taurus Crafts near Aylburton – where she was greeted by a choir from Lydney Church of England Primary School.

After being shown some of the workshops used by artisan makers, she joined the Camphill Village Trust which its celebrating 70 years of helping people with learning disabilities and other needs.

The Royal visit also marked 30 years of the Taurus Crafts visitor centre which is part of the Trust which also supports adults with autism, mental health problems and complex needs.

The Princess unveiled a plaque and cut a cake and was presented with a food hamper.