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 Sunday.

Environment Agency Area Incident Manager Nick Green described the situation in Tenbury Wells as "difficult".

"Most of the businesses got flooded as a result of the overflow from Kyre Brook," he said. "It's going to be a very difficult one for them to recover from.

"The community's really pulling together and they'll be able to make big strides over the next few days."

Elsewhere in the county, 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's highways department, described a "generally improving picture" in the region.

A clean-up operation has started in Tenbury Wells, with residents, emergency services and the council working with the Environment Agency

"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.

'Reopening roads where we can'

"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.

Mr Green said flood alerts and warning were also expected to remain in place for the rest of the week.