Shropshire & Mid Wales floods: Barriers remain in place - but the swans don't mind

In Bridgnorth, Doctors Lane was yesterday closed between the A442 Mill Street junction and the Severn Terrace junction, because of flooding. River levels in the town were set to peak last night.

The Ironbridge flood barriers are expected to be taken down on Sunday morning, Telford & Wrekin Council said this afternoon.

In Shrewsbury a group of swans were made the most of the extra stretch of water at their disposal – gliding along the surface of the River Severn over where a public footpath is usually seen near Greyfriars footbridge.

Flood warnings - flooding is expected. Immediate action required:

• River Severn at Ironbridge and Jackfield

• River Severn at Bridgnorth

• River Severn at Quatford

• River Severn at Hampton Loade and Highley

• River Vyrnwy at Maesbrook

• River Vyrnwy at Melverley

• Lower Dee Valley from Llangollen to Trevalyn Meadows

• River Perry at Mytton

• River Severn at Montford Bridge and Shrawardine

• River Severn at Shrewsbury

• River Severn at the Showground and The Quarry, Shrewsbury

Flood alerts - flooding is possible. Be prepared:

• Vyrnwy Catchment

• River Wye in Powys

• Lower Dee Valley from Llangollen to Trevalyn Meadows

• The River Dee Catchment in England from Whitchurch to Chester

• River Severn in Shropshire

• Tern and Perry Catchments

• River Severn in Worcestershire

• Upper Teme

• Severn Vyrnwy Confluence

• Upper Severn in Powys

• See all current Shropshire flood warnings and alerts here

The high water levels in the town and across the county show no sign of abating any time soon, leaving several car parks and roads facing an extended spell of being closed.

River levels are starting to drop in Shrewsbury, but Environment Agency bosses say they could rise after water comes down from Wales over the weekend.

Pumps were put into operation at Coleham Head to deal with excess water after the River Severn flooded close to Shrewsbury Sixth Form College.

Frankwell main car park and Frankwell Riverside short stay car park remain off-limits to vehicles and a number of roads in the town have been closed to traffic.

St Julian's Friars Long Stay Car Park is now open but drivers are advised not to park overnight in the lower area

But Shropshire Council has said that permit holders are able to park their cars in Abbey Foregate car park instead.

Road closures are in place in Gravel Hill Lane, close to the Greenhous West Mid Showground, Sydney Avenue in Castlefields, Victoria Avenue, Old Coleham, Chilton Farm Lane in Atcham and the main Cross Houses to Atcham road. Coleham Head is also closed to traffic due to Severn Trent Water pumping equipment being deployed.

As of yesterday lunchtime, river levels in the town stood at 3.8meters at gauge points. Dave Throup, from the Environment Agency, said he was unaware of any properties being flooded in Shrewsbury.

He said: "At the moment river levels are dropping but it is a slow process. Water will be coming down from Wales over the next couple of days and we do expect water levels to remain high. More rain is expected over the weekend and this may push water levels back up.

"We are keeping the flood barriers in place for the time being. But as soon as we can, we will get them down and then the car parks will reopen. Barriers in Coleham have already been removed."

Flood barriers remained in place overnight in Ironbridge as water levels peaked yesterday afternoon.

The River Severn along The Wharfage had been expected to rise several metres above its normal level, putting the town at risk of flooding.

• See all current Shropshire flood warnings and alerts here

The flood barriers went up in Ironbridge on Tuesday and the Environment Agency has confirmed they will be staying in place until there is a change in the weather.

As of 3.30am yesterday, the level at the Buildwas gauge was 4.62 metres and rising. A peak level of between 4.9 and 5.4 metres was expected to occur yesterday afternoon.

At about 3.30pm yesterday, Dave Throup, Environment Agency manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, tweeted:

The Environment Agency said it was constantly monitoring water levels and the barriers would be staying up until the weather changed.

Bungs have also been put in gulleys in Ironbridge to stop rising water in the drains.

Tim Sneddon, Shropshire Council's environmental maintenance manager, said: "Shropshire Council gets information from our partners the Environment Agency advising of predicted river levels and peak level times. We use that in our response to car park and road closures.

"For the long stay car parks we have to take a precautionary approach and close them if we are advised that they could become flooded during the course of that day. For road closures we monitor those closely when flooding is possible and only close those when necessary due to flooding."

More on Twitter: