Man dies in Shropshire flooding
[gallery] A man in his 60s has died after being swept away by flood water as torrential rain battered Shropshire. The man was crossing a stream in Bitterley, near Ludlow, shortly after 10.30am on Thursday when he was washed away. He was recovered from the water, but pronounced dead by paramedics a short time later. He has not been formally identified but has been named locally as Mike Ellis. Villagers today spoke of their shock. Jane Bishop, teacher at Bitterley Primary School, said: "It's a shock to the whole community – a much-loved and respected member of the village has died."
A man in his 60s has died after being swept away by flood water as torrential rain battered Shropshire.
The man was crossing a stream in Bitterley, near Ludlow, shortly after 10.30am on Thursday when he was washed away.
He was recovered from the water, but pronounced dead by paramedics a short time later.
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He has not been formally identified but has been named locally as Mike Ellis.
Villagers today spoke of their shock. Jane Bishop, teacher at Bitterley Primary School, said: "It's a shock to the whole community – a much-loved and respected member of the village has died."
Elsewhere, an 87-year-old Second World War veteran was one of three people who had to be rescued by firefighters as they were left up to their waists in flood water in their cars on the A454 Bridgnorth to Wolverhampton road.
It comes after nearly a whole month's worth of rain fell in the space of just half an hour, causing chaos across the county.
A team of 20 firefighters went to the scene near Swancote, near Bridgnorth, at about 9am and found pensioner Desmond Weston stuck in his green Vauxhall with water almost up to his dashboard.
Mr Weston, from Wombourne, near Wolverhampton, was pulled from his car and carried to safety by two firefighters who waded through water almost three feet deep to reach him.
Martin Gannon and Len Eyton, from Bushbury, Wolverhampton, were also left trapped by the flood but a fire engine shunted their car to safety and they were unharmed.
Shropshire struck by floods Your pictures
A fourth man, who had been at the wheel of a white box van, was also marooned by the deluge and firefighters also waded out to free him unharmed.
War veteran Mr Weston, who was on the way to walk his granddaughter Emma Shaw's dog in Bridgnorth, said: "It was a real shock but I am all right."
Mr Gannon, who was returning home with friend Mr Eyton from a night's fishing, said there was no warning of the flood.
The 51-year-old said: "It came from nowhere.
"The car suddenly stalled and the next thing we knew the water was pouring inside through the doors. It had to be two feet deep inside the car."
The A454 was sealed off following the incident and diversions via Telford were put in operation.
Newport Road in Cosford was also blocked in both directions between the A41 Newport Road junction and the Sandy Lane junction due to water on the road.
Driver Gavin Cartwright was left marooned in a separate incident nearby in Eardington, near Bridgnorth. Mr Cartwright, from Highley, was caught out by flood water more than two feet deep which swamped Halfway House Lane at about 11am.
Mr Cartwright, aged 30, said: "I was driving through and thought it would be safe but the flood was much deeper on one side of the road than the other.
"I didn't realise how deep it was until the car conked out and then flooded.
"The water almost came up to my waist and everything inside was ruined, including my computer.
"I had to get out and push the car clear," he added.
Services along the Severn Valley Railway at Bridgnorth were delayed as staff struggled to make their way into work.
David Mee, services manager, said: "We certainly had a good wash along the line, but it's still operating.
"The only difficulty we've had is the number of staff that have been marooned on their way to work who are travelling with caution."
A parade with Olympic torch bearers at Williams Brookes in Much Wenlock to celebrate World Sport Day was also cancelled due to the rain.
