Heavy rain causes flash flooding

Flooding has affected a number of roads

Heavy rain has caused flash floods and has led to warnings of rising river levels in the West Midlands.

Flood water has been reported on streets in Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire.

National Highways closed two lanes of the M5 near Halesowen on Tuesday evening after flooding on the motorway, but all lanes had reopened by Wednesday morning.

The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning in Halesowen and 11 less serious flood alerts across Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire.

The flood warning on the Illey Brook in Halesowen was declared on Tuesday night. The Environment Agency said it was expected to affect properties and roads around the A459, Grange Crescent and Hayseech Road.

Surface water flooding was also reported in the Bartley Green area of Birmingham

Bruce Lines, a Birmingham city councillor for the Bartley Green area, said the flooding had caused "gridlock" there four or five times in the past 12 months.

He said the area had seen an "exceptional amount of rain" in the past 24 hours and ground water had risen, with a particular problem around Adams Hill.

Mr Lines said: "The drainage system here doesn't appear to be sufficient and we need to get this resolved."

Another Bartley Green councillor, Kerry Brewer, said: "Persistent flooding near Bartley Green School continues to cause major traffic disruption during periods of heavy rain."

She said the council's highways team had told her gullies in the area were unable to cope and she was looking for a "long-term solution to prevent future disruption".

A number of roads have closed and drivers have been worried to drive carefully

Elsewhere in Birmingham, flooding has caused delays and road closures.

The RAC reported the A456 Hagley Road West was partially blocked, heading east, between the A4123 Wolverhampton Road and Beechwood Road.

It said flooding had also closed the exit slip road to the M6 northbound at Hilton Park Services.