Winds and heavy rain batters Shropshire and Mid Wales as Storm Frank hits

Flood barriers will stay up in Shropshire, as Storm Frank makes its arrival from across the Atlantic.

The Met Office said cloud and persistent rain, heavy at times, will spread slowly eastwards across all parts of Shropshire throughout today.

It will be windy, with gales in places, these easing as the rain clears east later.

But the unseasonably mild winter will continue, with temperatures rising to around 11C (52F). Rain should then ease for a few days, returning briefly to the county at the weekend.

If you have any pictures of Storm Frank in Shropshire and Mid Wales then scroll down to the bottom to submit them to us.

Environment Agency spokesman Dave Throup said: "Rainfall over the Welsh mountains and in North Herefordshire and Shropshire over the last few days has fallen on areas where the ground is already saturated and river levels are seasonally high. Further heavy rain is expected tomorrow which is likely to slightly increase the current levels in the River Severn and Wye over the next few days and we will be closely monitoring any likely impacts.

"The barriers currently deployed at Frankwell, Shropshire, will remain in place."

A flood warning is currently active for the Lower Dee Valley from Llangollen to Trevalyn Meadows – meaning that flooding is expected.

Flood alerts are in place for The River Dee catchment in England from Whitchurch to Chester, River Severn in Shropshire and the Severn Vyrnwy Confluence.

The Environment Agency said that in addition to these areas, some localised flooding problems may result from surface water. Though there is still a risk of flooding, Shropshire looks likely to miss the worst of the storms.

In the North of England, some 500 military troops have been mobilised to aid emergency services, with another 1,000 on standby should the situation worsen.

Fire crews from Shropshire have also been sent to Lancashire to assist with the situation.