Shropshire braced for more flood misery

Rain-lashed Shropshire and Mid Wales was today braced for possible flooding with weather experts predicting a battering from thunderstorms and more downpours.

It comes on top of torrential rain yesterday which caused flash flooding in parts of the region.

Yesterday's rainfall was 28mm (1.1ins) being recorded at Shawbury's Met Office site, the highest amount in the West Midlands.

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Heavy showers and thunder are forecast for the region today, with up to 30mm (1.2 inches) of rain possible in some parts.

Environment Agency (EA) officials yesterday visited a house in Ford, near Shrewsbury, to check on the safety of its occupants after flood water surrounded the property.

And a Shropshire Star van driver had a lucky escape near Shrewsbury when the vehicle got stuck in floodwater at the Boreton Brook ford, near Condover.

Passing motorist Peter Degg said he had come to the aid of the driver.

"We towed him to safety. He was lucky the van wasn't washed down stream as it was flowing very fast. There was at least a foot of water inside the cab," he said.

Environment Agency officials have listed both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin among the areas at risk of further possible flooding today.

The county has been put on a 'low risk' alert, with minor disruption likely, while the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain in the West Midlands today.

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Met Office forecaster Michael Lawrence said south Shropshire was at highest risk of suffering problems today.

"The bottom line is it is remaining quite unsettled. There is a risk of showers bobbing up almost anywhere and some might even have thunder," he said.

"But there will probably also be some sunny spells later on today.

"Because it is showers it is quite hit and miss. It will be quite localised."

He said the yellow warning for the county indicates between 20mm to 30mm (1.2ins) of rain could fall – but added that the worst of the rain is expected to miss most of the county.

"It is a risk you could catch a couple of heavy showers. South Shropshire is more of a risk," he said.

But the situation in the county is expected to escape the worst of the weather on Thursday, with no flood warnings in place for either Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin tomorrow.

Mr Lawrence said: "It will be mainly dry overnight – the first time it has been dry for large parts of the country for a while."

And an Environment Agency spokesman said today: "Heavy showers over central, southwest and southern England and Wales bring a further low risk of surface water flooding with minor disruption likely. After a brief respite on Thursday further rain will arrive from the southwest of England and Wales during the afternoon and evening and there is another low flood risk.

"There is uncertainty on the details of this rainfall, however, potentially significant disruption could happen in places."

There are no current flood warnings in place for either the River Severn, Teme or Vyrnwy.

Shropshire County Cricket Club's annual Resource Bank Challenge match against an Invitational XI, which was due to be held at Wrekin College tomorrow, has become a victim of the weather.

Organisers were left with little alternative with puddles lying on the outfield.

But the sold-out hospitality event – which will be attended by 600 people – will still be staged in a marquee at Wrekin.

Former England star Paul Nixon and ex-Worcestershire captain Ben Smith – who were due to be the star names in the cricket match – will still attend and will stage a post-lunch question and answer session.

On a national level, thunderstorms and torrential downpours are forecast to cause further misery across the country.

Weather experts said up to 15mm of rain could fall in an hour in some places as the period of unseasonably wet weather that has brought flooding up and down the country continues.

The EA has three flood warnings, one in the South West and two in the Midlands and 26 flood alerts in place across England.

And amber warnings for rain have been issued in south-eastern areas of Scotland, with yellow alerts in place for large swathes of England.

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