Flood defence barriers go up as more rain forecast

Bewdley's Severnside flood barrier will go up on Thursday morning, the Environment Agency said

Flood defences will go up in a Worcestershire town where the River Severn is prone to burst its banks.

The lower stages of the Severnside flood barrier in Bewdley will be deployed at 07:30 GMT on Thursday, the Environment Agency (EA) said.

Heavy rain has already affected part of the region with several flood alerts being issued and residents of Whittern Way, Hereford, suffering the effects of flash flooding on Tuesday evening.

It comes ahead of a Met Office yellow weather warning that heavy and prolonged rain was expected on Friday which could lead to flooding and disruption, including difficult driving conditions, road closures and delays or cancellations to bus and train services.

Whittern Way resident Philip Davies told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "We noticed [the water] coming up and it was coming up at a fair rate of knots.

"It was ongoing all night and the fire brigade were pumping out some properties close by."

He added that on Wednesday morning the water had cleared within 15 minutes after the drains were unblocked.

Whittern Way residents said the water came up at a rate of knots but subsided by the morning

Earlier, the EA issued a flood warning in Halesowen and 11 less serious flood alerts in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and surrounding Shropshire and Staffordshire.

Steve Jackson, from the Bablake weather station in Coventry, said Friday was set to be the wettest day of the autumn so far and that it could be windy too.

"We're talking about driving rain - most unpleasant," he said.

He added that in rural areas the ground was incredibly dry and now soaking up the water.