Shropshire Star

Shropshire flooding captured in pictures as River Severn levels begin to recede

Flood waters continue to create upheaval across the county - although levels have now peaked and defences are being removed.

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While flood waters began to recede in and around Shrewsbury on Monday evening, things were still looking decidedly wet further downstream towards Telford.

Thousands of acres of farmland across the county remained under feet of water on Tuesday morning as the river level peaked in Ironbridge and Bridgnorth.

Trees were half submerged, cellars of pubs and houses flooded and roads impassable.

But the county's flood plains were doing their job of largely keeping the water away from the residential areas, as this radar image shows.

Radar version shows the colossal amount of water being temporarily held in the flood plains

In Shrewsbury Frankwell car park remained closed and roads in the town that were shut to traffic included Sydney Avenue and Gravel Hill Lane, although Coleham Head and Victoria Avenue were open after being shut on Monday.

The Frankwell barriers, which were put in place from Friday onwards, have kept flooding to a minimum and allowed daily life to go on at the theatre, university centre and other nearby buildings.

WATCH: Video and pictures show Shropshire flooding

Further out of town, the Atcham to Cross Houses road and Chiltern Farm Lane in Atcham were both closed.

The flooded Showground in Shrewsbury

In Shrewsbury, a red flood warning remained for the Greenhous West Mid Showground and low level footpaths in the Quarry were out of bounds for walkers, cyclists and runners.

The following flood warnings were still in place on Monday afternoon:

  • The River Severn at Bridgnorth

  • The River Severn at Ironbridge and Jackfield

  • The River Severn at Quatford, near Bridgnorth

  • The River Severn at the West Mid Showground and Quarry in Shrewsbury

  • The River Severn at Hampton Loade and Highley

The Severn Valley Caravan Park in Quatford was flooded, as was the Severn Park not far away in Bridgnorth, where river levels peaked at 4.2 metres on Tuesday morning.

Flooding in the Severn Valley Caravan Park in Quatford, Bridgnorth
The swollen Severn in Bridgnorth on Tuesday

Mayor of Bridgnorth, Councillor Ron Whittle, said: "Bridgnorth currently has no flood barriers to put up.

"Certain areas of the town have suffered from flooding but nothing of any major concern to any infrastructure or buildings.

"Public footpaths next to the river have had an overflow of water onto them but we are expecting this to ease off from this point onwards."

The River Severn had also burst its banks, spilling on to farmland, at Melverley and Pentre.

Rob Evans spotted this lone tree submerged up to its branches in the back garden of a house near Edgerley.

A lone tree at Edgerlely

Waters were running fast at Ironbridge although flood defences ensured most of the town stayed dry before they were taken down again on Tuesday afternoon.

Councillor Nicola Lowery, borough councillor for the Ironbridge Gorge said on Tuesday morning: “River levels are still high but steady at the Buildwas river gauge.

"The river was predicted to peak at 5.0- 5.2 m this morning and is expected to maintain until tomorrow morning. The Environment Agency have advised that if river levels do begin to fall that they will look to remove the flood barriers in Ironbridge later on today.

"It is still business as usual here in the Ironbridge Gorge and the high river levels continue to attract more people to the area which is great to ensure we support our local businesses.

"The speed and force of the mighty River Severn is truly a magnificent sight to behold and I would encourage everyone to come down and experience this impressive force of nature."

Telford and Wrekin Council said it would be working to remove the traffic management and fencing so that the Wharfage could be reopened as soon as possible once the barriers were fully removed.

Forecasters now say that drier weather will move in to the region and that rivers have peaked. Temperatures will rise and there is no more rainfall predicted this week.

A bright sunrise greeted those up early enough this morning - as captured in Bridgnorth by photographer Ian Morre of Wild Heart.

At Welshpool, Airport Road was closed due to flooding and surrounding countryside was under water.

Fields close to Crew Green were also submerged as Tom Seward captured in this photo, showing Rodney's Pillar on the left.

The flood plains looking towards Rodney's Pillar. Photo: Tom Seward