Shropshire roads closed by flooding with more rain on the way

The Wharfage, in Ironbridge, was shut after defences were put up between Dale End and High Street to cope with rising water levels.

The Environment Agency said that it had upgraded the Severn at Ironbridge and Jackfield to a full flood warning, with the river already more than 4m (13ft) above normal summer level.

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• Fire crews - and collie - rescue 25 stranded sheep from flooding in Shrewsbury

• Videos from the flooding

Downstream from Bridgnorth, the river was showing early signs of bursting its banks, as heavy rain and high winds were forecast to last until Saturday and there were flood warnings for the River Severn at Hampton Loade and Highley and at Quatford

At 11 am today the level at the Bridgnorth Gauge was 3.88 metres and rising. A peak level of between 4 and 4.4 metres is expected to occur tomorrow morning.

There are further flood warnings for the Severn across the county at Mytton, Montford Bridge and Shrawardine, Shrewsbury Showground and The Quarry

Barriers are already in place in Frankwell, Shrewsbury, and Longden Coleham.

St Julian's Friars car park in Shrewsbury was flooded overnight so limited parking was available today. Both Frankwell main and Riverside car parks are shut.

Flood barriers also went up in Bewdley today.

Serena Balsdon, a spokeswoman for the Environment Agency, said: "The main rivers in the country are continuing to rise following the heavy rainfall. Further rain is forecast tomorrow but the effects are not expected to be as significant.

"There will be light showers until Friday afternoon, where there will be heavy bursts of rain – 15 to 20cms of rain is forecast to fall on the Welsh uplands as far south as the Severn lowlands. The rain will continue through to Saturday morning, with lighter rain forecast on Saturday and Sunday."

Ollie Parry, landlord of The Salopian Bar on Smithfield Road, in Shrewsbury said today he is already having to pump out water but may have to close if flooding gets worse over the weekend.

He added: "Eight years ago we were shut and I've already done one major insurance claim. Now I can't get insured for flooding anymore. If the water comes across Smithfield Road there is nothing we can do.

"At the moment the river is peaking. But I'm much concerned about the next two days.

"The weather across the country is meant to be terrible. It will take 48 hours for the water to come up for Wales, so it will hit Sunday night or Monday morning."

Meanwhile, Burma Road, in Whittington, near Oswestry was sealed off early today between the A495 and North Drive outside Park Hall Stadium due to flooding.

The B5398 Waymills Road in Whitchurch was still closed between the A525 Nantwich Road and Bridgewater Street.

Yesterday cars were trapped at Llandrinio Bridge near Four Crosses on the Shropshire/Powys border.

Roads affected today also include the Pentre to Melverley road near Royal Hill, Gravel Hill Lane in Shrewsbury and Sydney Avenue, Shrewsbury.

In posts on social networking sites, a number of people living in Shrewsbury said they were already having trouble with the rising water levels.

On Twitter, Sarah Hart said: "The horses in the field opposite have lost half their field to flooding today and the Severn is still rising."

Yesterday cars were trapped at Llandrinio Bridge near Four Crosses on the Shropshire and Powys border.

Roads affected today also include the Pentre to Melverley road near Royal Hill, Gravel Hill Lane in Shrewsbury and Sydney Avenue, Shrewsbury.

In posts on social networking sites, a number of people living in Shrewsbury said they were already having trouble with the rising water levels.

The water levels at Crew Green Gauge have reached 6.09 metres (20ft) and were falling after reaching their peak yesterday morning.

Water at Montford was at 5.98 metres (19ft) and reaching its peak, while the gauge at the Welsh Bridge Gauge was 3.46 metres and rising.

• Follow @EnvAgencyMids and #floodaware on Twitter for the latest flood outlook, and to sign up to receive free flood warnings

• Environment Agency Live Flood Warning map - updated every 15 minutes