Parts of Ironbridge several feet underwater as brook bursts during heavy rainfall

Dale End in Coalbrookdale was several feet under water from around 9am this morning with heavy rain understood to have resulted in the nearby brook bursting its banks.

The situation has affected a number of homes and properties in the area.

Katie Cook, manager at the Brooke Evans Ironbridge salon, said they had been warned the brook was about to burst, with some staff and clients able to move their cars out of harm's way.

She said: "When we all got here here this morning there were obviously little puddles but it was absolutely fine.

"About five to nine someone came in and said 'the brook is going to burst and it is going to flood'."

Katie said she had donned her waders to deliver items left by a client in the salon to her car, before then going above-and-beyond by giving another client a piggy back through the water to her car.

She said the water contained sewage and was 'disgusting'.

She said that while it was a nuisance for the salon, with clients unable to attend appointments, the water had not flooded the business, unlike others less fortunate.

She said: "It is alright for us because it has come to the top step but we don't think it is going to actually come into the salon."

Aerial pictures from Robin Fellows-Weir, who runs RFW Photo Video, have also shown the extent of the situation.

One business owner found herself stuck at home after water rushed into the Dale Road and Coalbrookdale area this morning.

Kim Warren, of The Little Christmas Shop & Mrs Claus’ Kitchen said: "The business is shut today.

"I am stranded at home and there is ankle deep water in my garden. I can't get to the shop.

"I think it is just the heavy rain we saw, sent water into the dip at the roundabout and into Dale End."

She said Ironbridge is quite quiet at the moment because of roadworks that have blocked off Jiggers Bank.

But the town can still be approached from other directions.

Another business owner who wished to remain anonymous said they were not affected but that it is "terrible" for those who have been hit.

"I feel terrible for the businesses and residents affected.

"It looks like it has gone into some homes."

She said she thinks that the floods were caused by "just the levels of rain.

"I believe it has happened before."

Another Ironbridge resident was stunned to see a lake had appeared in the middle of Dale End at about 9am this morning.

Ben Nichols said he had been on his way to a local cafe for breakfast but his way was blocked by a mini lake that had grown up during the tremendous downpour.

"I was going to go to the Dale End Cafe for breakfast but I saw a barrel floating in the water and it was closed," said Ben who is worried about the possibility of the water rising further.

"I went into the Co-op but they weren't closed at the time. There were people out wearing high viz jackets."