Heavy rain and floods prompt severe weather warning

Heavy rain is expected to disrupt travel by roads and rails across the West Midlands by heavy rain

Heavy rain and floods have prompted severe weather warnings in the West Midlands, where road and rail travel has been disrupted.

The Met Office said communities across Birmingham, Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire could be cut off by floods, which it says could pose a danger to life.

In north Shropshire and Staffordshire an amber warning of rain was issued, meaning fast-flowing or deep flood water was likely.

The Environment Agency has also put out flood alerts, advising people to avoid low-lying paths near rivers and homeowners to be prepared.

Unsettled weather is expected to continue until 06:00 BST on Thursday, with persistent and heavy outbreaks of rain.

National Rail said flooding on tracks affected train services earlier between Birmingham International and Coventry railway stations.

Flooding has affected low-lying fields by Radford Bank, Stafford

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service advised people in a post on X to take care on wet roads and not drive through closures.

The River Avon is expected to flood farmland and caravan parks between Rugby and Bidford-on-Avon.

Flood alerts are in place in the Black Country, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire, with the Upper Tame between Horseley Heath and Castle Vale and the Ford Brook between Walsall and Bescot affected.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue warned people not to drive through closed roads

Delays and cancellations

The River Stour is also expected to flood on adjacent land and on roads between Caunsall and Stourport-on-Severn and around Smestow Brook.

Other locations may be affected by flooding include Wolverley and Cookley, Blakedown and Kidderminster.

Flooding is also possible around the River Cole between Majors Green and Coleshill, the Environment Agency said.

Earlier, trains ran at reduced speed up causing delays and cancellations on services between Birmingham New Street, Coventry, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton.

The disruption affected Avanti West Coast, Cross Country, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway networks.

National Rail said customers could use tickets on alternative routes.

Nick Lupton, who lives between Worcester and Upton upon Severn in Worcestershire, has built a flood wall around his home

Nick Lupton, who lives between Worcester and Upton upon Severn in Worcestershire, built a defensive wall around his home last year after recurrent flooding.

He told the BBC his "very sturdy wall" was working so far.

"It’s not going anyway, I think it’ll last longer than the house," he said. "It's much of a nicer experience to be able to walk around the house in the dry."