Power cut hits Shropshire homes as floods threaten
Dozens of homes in Shropshire were left without power for almost five hours on Christmas Day and emergency pumps were brought in to prevent houses being flooded as water levels on the River Severn rose.
The power went out in Dudleston Heath, near Ellesmere, at about 1pm and was not restored to some homes until 6pm.
Meanwhile engineers working for Severn Trent spent much of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day pumping water from the River Severn in the Abbey Foregate area of Shrewsbury to prevent 200 homes and the town's abbey from being flooded.
A flood warning – a status issued when flooding is expected to occur and immediate action is advised – remained in place today on the River Severn at the Showground and the Quarry in Shrewsbury.
Flood alerts were in force on the River Severn throughout Shropshire, the Severn-Vyrnwy confluence, the Tern and Perry catchments, the Upper and Lower Teme either side of Ludlow and the River Lugg in the Leominster area.
An estimated 24,000 homes in the south and south east of England were still without power, with some not likely to have supply restored until the end of the week. More than 1,000 homes across Britain were left flooded following storms in the days leading up to Christmas.
Gritters were out today across Shropshire as forecasters warned dry conditions would make way for heavy rain tomorrow.
Environment Agency Live Flood Warning map - updated every 15 minutes
