Summary

  • Floods close a number of roads and rail lines

  • Several schools have also been forced to shut

  • In parts of Shropshire, more than the average monthly rain fell in just 24 hours

Live Reporting

Edited by Tim Page, written by Andy Giddings

  1. Town rallies to help travellers stranded by flooding

    When flood water washed over roads and the railway line at Church Stretton in Shropshire yesterday, it left many travellers stranded.

    They were left looking for somewhere to stay and Sarah Knight, the landlord of The Bucks Head pub was one of those to help out.

    She said some travellers stayed in her rooms and she asked around various bed and breakfasts to find places for others.

    Here you can see the flood water washing over the A49 close to the town.

    A view through a car windscreen of water on a road with grass on either side and a silver car in front driving through the brown waterKate Fraser

    Ms Knight also asked residents if they could make a room available and said: "Four couples that have stayed in various places in people's homes because they couldn't get anywhere."

    But not everyone was lucky and she added: "Unfortunately I think there were a few people that had to sleep in their cars in the car park."

  2. South Shropshire bears brunt of school closures

    The Shropshire primary schools closed by flooding are mainly clustered in the south of the county:

    • Bishop's Castle
    • Burford
    • Chirbury
    • Clunbury
    • Newcastle
    • Norbury
    • Onny
    • Shrewsbury Cathedral Catholic Primary
    • St George's in Clun
    • St Mary's in Bucknell
    • Stiperstones
    • Wistanstow
    • Lydbury North is "partially open".

  3. Roads closed and rail services affected

    Ed Bradford, who is responsible for roads at Herefordshire Council, said 21 roads were closed and described it as a "rapidly changing situation".

    He added they were "starting to see these events happening more frequently", but it was difficult to predict where flash flooding would happen.

    "It's not just about drainage capacity," he added.

    More roads have been closed in Shropshire and Worcestershire and the emergency services have once again advised people not to risk driving through flood water.

    And then there is the railway - this photo was shared by West Midlands Railway, showing the line at Wellington in Shropshire.

    Railway tracks barely visible below brown waterWest Midlands Railway

    Rail services between Shrewsbury and Wellington have also been affected by flooding on the track at Wellington.

    West Midlands Railway said it was likely to mean a bus replacement service for people travelling between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton and it couldn't say when the line would reopen.

  4. School closures due to flooding

    This morning we have 12 schools closed or partially closed in Shropshire, 11 in Herefordshire and another one in Worcestershire.

    They include Peterchurch School in Herefordshire, which said it would remain closed on Thursday and Friday, on the advice of the fire service, while water was pumped out of the building.

    Head teacher Nia Powell said closing a school "is not something taken lightly", but she added: "When we have water pouring into the building it’s not safe."

  5. Flooding in Shrophire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

    Andy Giddings
    BBC News

    The rain we've had over the last couple of days has been causing some serious disruption across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

    Roads, schools and railway lines have been closed and we'll be bringing you the latest news, plus stories from the people affected.