Cars trapped as floods hit region
Cars were trapped in water as Shropshire and Mid Wales was hit by more flooding today following heavy downpours.
Fire crews from Welshpool and Aberystwyth were called to Llandrinio Bridge, near Four Crosses, at 6.50am after several drivers found themselves trapped in water.
Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said a water rescue team has also been called.
A spokeswoman for the service said: "We were called to several vehicles submerged in flood water near the bridge just before 7am today.
"On arrival we found a number of cars involved and we alerted the owners and are now carrying out a rescue operation to get the vehicles safely out.
"We have crews from Welshpool and Aberystwyth and the water rescue team at the scene."
Natural Resources Wales said the water level at Llandrinio is at 6.6 metres and rising slowly. It is expected to peak in the next few hours.
Barry Brisbourne, a farm worker, got stuck but used his tractor to pull trapped drivers free.
He said: "I went to work, got the tractor, came back and pulled my car out. I've pulled three cars out this morning and there were still more stuck."
Another motorist, who did not want to be named, said: "It's crazy, it's like standing in the middle of the sea."
Heavy showers yesterday evening left roads across the county awash with water, causing problems for drivers and fears that the county will be hit by more flooding once rain water from North Wales makes its way downstream.
The Environment Agency has three flood warnings in place in Shropshire, one for the Severn in Shrewsbury and two for the River Vyrnwy on the Shropshire border.
Flood barriers were put in place in Frankwell in Shrewsbury and Longden Coleham yesterday as the River Severn through the county continued to rise.
The river gauge at the Welsh Bridge was recording 2.61m (8.5ft) above summer level but the river was not expected to peak until tomorrow
Residents are warned that there is a risk of flooding at Gravel Hill Lane, Sydney Avenue and the West Mid Show Ground.
Frankwell Main and Frankwell Riverside car parks are shut.
Meanwhile, travellers heading into Wales faced delays late yesterday afternoon as flooding on the tracks at Gobowen hit services out of Shrewsbury. Trains were diverted via Crewe and a replacement bus service took passengers to all stations between Shrewsbury and Chester.
Trains were able to pass the line again by 7pm.
But drivers then found themselves having to find other ways around the station after a barrier failure closed the level crossing for almost an hour later yesterday.
Engineers were called out shortly after 10pm to carry out repairs, with the barriers finally lifting by 11.30pm.
The Vyrnwy at the Llanymynech Gauge was due to peak at between 4.2m (13.8ft) and 4.4m (14.4ft) overnight and the Crew Green gauge near Melverley was expected to peak at between 5.9m (19.3ft) and 6.3m (20.6ft) this afternoon.
Further downstream the Severn is on flood alert but is not expected to peak at Ironbridge or Bridgnorth until Friday, and there are no immediate plans to put up the flood barriers in Ironbridge.
The showers were due to ease off during today – but the respite will be brief as colder weather moves in.
The Met Office reports that winds today will become more easterly, with a risk that outbreaks of rain will turn to sleet this afternoon.
Although the forecast is for drier weather at the end of the week it will continue to feel cold as winter finally makes its mark.
