New Shropshire floods alert as rain hits

The flood barriers went up in Shrewsbury as a flood warning was put on the River Severn at the Quarry and at the West Mid Showground. The swollen river is also rising in Ironbridge.

Motorists were also rescued as they became trapped in their cars in rapidly rising floodwater and train services were cancelled because of flooding between Shrewsbury and Wrexham.

Elsewhere in the UK three people have died and hundreds of homes have been flooded. But Shropshire has escaped the worst effects of the flooding so far.

A 21-year-old woman was killed and two people were injured in Exeter, Devon when they were crushed by a tree. A 50-year-old man also died after falling into a canal in Watford on Saturday.

Up to 15mm of rain is likely to fall across the spine of Britain today, less than the 30mm of rain in the West Country or the 40mm to 50mm possible in the North and Wales.

A total of 195 flood alerts and warnings were in place in the Midlands this morning.

These include the flood warning for Shrewsbury and alerts for the River Teme and its tributaries downstream of Ludlow and the River Worfe in the Cosford area.

In Shrewsbury today river levels measured 2.55m and rising at the Welsh Bridge at 7am. The river is expected to peak at up to 3m deep this evening.

The Environment Agency has also warned Gravel Hill Lane and Sydney Avenue in Shrewsbury could be flooded.

Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman John Hawker said: "We would urge people to take a short detour, rather than become trapped in their cars."

Shropshire and mid Wales is set to be battered by rain and high winds today – with the chance of snow by the end of the week.

Greg Dewhurst from the Met Office said up to 20mm (0.8ins) of rain was possible across Shropshire this afternoon, while wind speeds could reach up to 35mph.

The wet weather is expected to last into tomorrow morning.

But the outlook is brighter for the rest of the week, although falling temperatures mean there may be snow or sleet on its way towards the end of the week.

Mr Dewhurst said: "Through the morning it will be generally cloudy, with some outbreaks of light rain.

"We are looking at 15 to 20mm over a period from this afternoon through until the morning time afternoon."

Last night emergency services were called out to Low Town, in Bridgnorth, at 11.30 to search the river after reports that someone may have fallen in. Police believe it was a false alarm 'with good intentions'.

• See also - Shropshire braced for more flood misery

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