Warnings of further flooding as more rain expected

An aerial view of flooding in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, taken on 24 November

Multiple flood warnings remain in place across the West Midlands as communities continue to deal with the aftermath of flooding caused by Storm Bert.

The warnings affect stretches of the rivers Avon, Severn and Teme in Shropshire, Worcestershire and the Wye in Herefordshire.

Water levels also remain high in places on the Avon in Warwickshire.

The Met Office is forecasting further spells of rain overnight, while the Environment Agency has issued warnings that rivers could cause problems quickly on saturated ground.

A number of roads are closed or impassable in Worcestershire due to flooding or storm damage, including Teme Street in Tenbury Wells.

A collapsed wall in the town caused businesses and homes to flood on Monday.

The A4103, in Rushwick, was also impassable between Bransford Road and Station Road.

There are further road closures in Upton upon Severn, Linridge, Cropthorne and Birlingham.

Ben Sparrow, from Worcestershire County Council Highways, described a "generally improving picture" in the region.

'Reopening where we can'

"The level on the Teme has dropped quite considerably overnight, so we're in a position now where we're going to start reopening some of the roads that have been affected and closed in the Teme valley," he said.

"It's all the water moving down the Avon and the Severn that's just moving its way out of the county. As it closes some roads, it's opening others up at the top."

Ed Bradford, head of highways for Herefordshire, said the local picture was changing as different river catchments responded to the flow.

"We will be checking roads throughout the day and reopening where we can," he said.

In Warwickshire, the Welsh Road is impassable in both directions at Offchurch, because of standing water between Long Itchington Road and School Hill.

In Leamington Spa, the A452 Kenilworth Road has been blocked by a fallen tree in the Blackdown area.

The Environment Agency said temporary barriers on the River Severn at Bewdley, Worcestershire and Ironbridge, Shropshire would remain in place until water levels receded.