Floods: West Midlands updates

Summary

Four flood warnings still in force and 20 lesser flood alerts
Flood defences operating in Shrewsbury, Upton upon Severn and Kempsey
Nurse suspends River Severn swim
Drivers rescued from stranded cars
Some areas see three months of rain in just a week
More rain expected over weekend
Updates on Friday 14 June 2019

Live Reporting

Rivers levels 'to stay high into weekend'published at 18:09 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Water levels on the River Severn and the River Vyrnwy are expected to stay high into the weekend, the Environment Agency said.
Image source, Liam Ball
There are still two flood warnings on the Severn, external and two on the Vyrnwy , externalin Shropshire and Worcestershire and the agency said it was expecting more rain in the next 24 hours.
It also has nearly 20 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, at locations across the West Midlands., external
Our floods coverage across the daypublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
That's it for our live floods coverage through the day.
We'll continue our live coverage of all things news, sport, travel and weather on the BBC Midlands Live page.
If you want to get in touch with us or send us your photos of flooding near you, you can still email us.
Drinkers advised to avoid river walk homepublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
Drinkers are being warned to stay well clear of the River Severn this weekend after a spate of deaths in recent years.
Craig Jackson from Shropshire Fire and Rescue called for revellers to stick with friends and avoid walking home alone, external.
Kirsty Walsh works as an ambassador with the West Mercia Search and Rescue team after the death of her husband Shane in 2017, following a night out with friends
Here she is talking in 2018:
Media caption,
Widow of river victim highlights water safety awareness
Your photos: Flooded fields and riverspublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
BBC Weather Watchers
The weather forecast may be improving but there's still plenty of the wet stuff around in photos from our local BBC Weather Watchers.
These three are from users Z70 in Stafford, Bucko in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire and Mikesnapper in Worcester:
Image source, Z70
Image source, Bucko
Image source, Mikesnapper
Video: What's the weather got in store?published at 16:48 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today
Can we expect the rain to dry up over the next few days?
Here's the weekend forecast.
Media caption,
Latest weather for the West Midlands
Road closed for flood pump installationpublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
BBC News Travel
The installation of flood pumps will close a road in Worcester for about two hours on Saturday.
There will be diversions in place away from Hylton Road from 07:00, said the county council.
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Floral display appears in riverpublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
The River Severn's looking high this afternoon in Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, and has burst its banks.
But the Environment Agency has said, so far, its flood defences are working and the town is "fully open"., external
Image source, Environment Agency
In the last day, it has closed flood gates on New Street and Waterside., external
Charity race cancelled due to floodingpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
A charity inflatable obstacle race in Shewsbury - set for Sunday - is the latest event to be cancelled due to the wet weather.
Severn Hospice said the Kapow! event, due to be at the West Midlands Showground will now be run on Saturday 3 August.
Entrants will be refunded the entry fee if they cant make the new date.
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Rural areas bear brunt of floodspublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
It's mainly rural areas affected by flooding at the moment, with flood defences protecting the biggest towns like Shrewsbury and Upton upon Severn.
Villages like Hook-a-Gate, near Shrewsbury, however have seen deep floods.
Image source, Environment Agency
Elsewhere, fields have been covered as the flood-plains slow the pace of the Severn and stores some of the water heading for places such as Bewdley and Worcester.
Image source, Environment Agency
Rising River Severn floods pathspublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Footpaths near the River Severn in Worcester are flooded.
The Environment Agency's Dave Throup said the river's slowly rising but adds the "city is fully open for business"., external
Image source, Environment Agency
Image source, Environment Agency
Historical flooding in Shrewsburypublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
While we've been covering the impact of the heavy rain this week in Shrewsbury, Shropshire Archives has been taking a look back at the flooding situation in past years, external.
This was the scene under the railway bridges, Castle Foregate in 1946.
Image source, Shropshire Archives
Image source, Shropshire Council
Also pictured in 1946 this is a car driving through flood waters in Bridge Street, with Rowley's House and Hills Lane in the background.
Image source, Shropshire Archives
This image was taken in 1899 in Abbey Foregate, an area of the town always one of the worst hit, it said.
Flood water engulfs fordpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
Nick Jones said he encountered this scene when he approached a ford near Homer, in Shropshire.
He added that he "bottled it" and took a five-mile detour. Smart move by the looks.
Media caption,
Flooded ford
Parts of wildlife trust HQ floodedpublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
Visitors to Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's headquarters are being warned that parts of it are under water., external
The site's in Wolseley, near Stafford:
Image source, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
A38 still shut by floodspublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
BBC News Travel
A main road's still shut on the outskirts of Birmingham because of flooding.
It's the A38 in Castle Vale, between Forge Lane and Midpoint Boulevard roundabout, with local firms telling travel firm Inrix that there's heavy flooding under the railway bridge.
Several other roads are also blocked including Sandon Road, Stafford, the B4101 Balsall Street, near Knowle and Gresty Lane, Shavington, Cheshire.
There is better news on the trains as National Rail Enquiries said services are running normally between Shrewsbury and Newtown after earlier flooding., external
People rescued from stranded carspublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
Fire crews in Warwickshire helped rescue passengers after two cars became stuck in flood water overnight.
It called on drivers to avoid floods after being called to help in Crofton Ford, Alcester and Pelham Lane, Great Alne, in the early hours of this morning.
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Flood warning lifted in Warwickshirepublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
A flood warning's been lifted in Warwickshire by the Environment Agency.
It said the risk of flooding on the River Anker at Mancetter, Witherley and Atherstone's reduced., external
Image source, Mikesnapper
There are still three warnings in place in Shropshire, one in Worcester (pictured) and one in Coleshill, Warwickshire., external
Pumping out after floodspublished at 13:03 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
The area around Crewgreen in Shropshire, where the rivers Severn and Vyrnwy converge, has been one of the worst affected by flooding.
This is the scene in nearby Edgerley this morning as fields resemble lakes and pubs pump out the flood water.
Low lying road affected by floodingpublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
A flood alert for the Middle Tame in the West Midlands is in place, external with flooding likely in the area.
Image source, Environment Agency
Low lying lanes and roads adjacent to the river between Horseley Heath and Castle Vale are being affected and the Ford Brook between Walsall and Bescot.
River levels are expected to remain high throughout the day said the Environment Agency, with drivers being advised to avoid roads in the area.
Pumps, barriers and gates used to battle floodspublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
Flood barriers, pumps and gates - they're all being used in different places in the West Midlands today to try to minimise the impact of flooding in people's homes.
They're mainly being deployed along the River Severn, Britain's longest river, which flows through much of Shropshire and Worcestershire.
Image source, Environment Agency
In Shrewsbury, the temporary barriers are up in Frankwell, external, holding back the water as it keeps rising.
While the Environment Agency last night shut the flood gates on New Street in Upton upon Severn to do a similar job., external
Image source, Environment Agency
In the Worcestershire village of Kempsey, they Environment Agency has also been using the flood pumps, , externalinstalled at a cost of £1.5m in 2012.
In pictures: Nice weather for swanspublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 14 June 2019
This is the scene in Worcester this morning where river levels continue to rise slowly.
Image source, @Old_Vigornians
Image source, @Old_Vigornians
Old Vigorians, the account of former pupils of The King's School in the town, external, tweeted the pictures, adding "hope everyone has a brighter day than the weather forecast".