Barriers are being put up at Beale's Corner, Bewdley said the district council.

Other flood defences in the town have been raised to full height ahead of the expected peak of the River Severn on Tuesday.

Nigel and Mary Le Feuvre, who also have a property in Tenbury Wells, said they were woken at 07:00 when someone was ringing the bell.

Mr Le Feuvre said: "We were totally shocked because the water was sort of lapping at the front door and the back door.

"Our cars were sort of in the water itself as well. We quickly dashed to get things together, managed to take the cars out of the water, but there's water in one of the cars, and we're just in a state of shock.

"The sandbags really helped. There is water, though, percolating through the ground so it's coming up through the carpets a bit."

Image source, Environment Agency

Bewdley resident Pat Evans, who has lived at her home since 2001, woke neighbours up as the water started to rise.

"About half past four this morning, I saw the water coming across Stourport Road and I just knew we'd got to do something about it, so I woke everyone up.

"The water came right up practically to my house, to my door... It was getting close, but I don't think anyone expected it to come up as quickly as it did... We are vulnerable here. We know we're vulnerable."

Image source, AFP

BBC News Travel

Some good news on the roads, however.

The flooding has been cleared from the M42 southbound at J11 for Burton upon Trent, and all lanes have reopened.

The M54 has also reopened westbound between J1 for Cannock and J10A of the M6.

The J2 entry slip road has also reopened, but a lane remains closed to allow surface water to drain. The closure is expected to stay in place throughout the night.

The A49 in Herefordshire remains closed in both directions between the A4112 at Stockton and the A44 at Leomininster due to flooding.

In Staffordshire the A38 is closed southbound between the A513 near Alrewas and the A5127 near Lichfield.

Dozens of other local roads have also been affected across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire as major incidents have been announced across the three counties.

Damage to overhead lines between Penkridge and Stafford will affect rail services until the end of the day, said National Rail.

Bus replacement services are in place between Stafford, Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent.

It seems like last weekend's Storm Ciara is as responsible for today's flooding as Storm Dennis.

The Environment Agency said overnight rainfall had been heavy, but "not exceptional".

BBC Midlands Today

A resident in Bewdley says he "just about" had time to put a barrier up at ground level, as the floods rose earlier.

It was a "bit of a nightmare really because it's been raining all night and my roof is leaking as well", Dan Madden said.

"I got woken up by Pat next door.. and then looked outside here and it's all flooded, so quickly put [this barrier] up, which I had time to do, just about.

"It went around the back first and then it crept up here... all the garden was covered... and then yeah [it] got to the second rung [of the barrier] there and then since about... seven, half seven, it started to go down a bit."

Image source, AFP

Cars left in a car park over the border in Hay-on-Wye have been spotted floating away in floods.

The vehicles, captured by Jonathan Sayce, were left about 200m from the Three Tuns pub in the town.

There are also reports of vehicles floating away on Tow Tree Lane to the north of Hereford.

There are more road closures in Herefordshire - this time in Lugwardine and Dornington.

As we said earlier, some roads are now free of water, but floods have badly damaged the surface.

For the complete rundown on closures visit Herefordshire Council's website, external.

It's a similar situation in south Shropshire and Worcestershire.

One person has been confirmed as still missing in Lindridge, outside Tenbury Wells.

Earlier a man was rescued from water close to Woodston Oast House and taken to hospital.

West Mercia Police has confirmed an adult is still missing after officers were called to Eastham Bridge at 11:30.

Emergency services in boats and a police helicopter have been searching for someone swept away in the water.

Severn Area Rescue team has also deployed a team to help.

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

Lots of people have told me they think the water looks higher than during the last major flooding in 2007.

Some people have come out to take photographs, walk dogs and splash in puddles.

An emergency relief centre has been set up at the high school. Volunteers have been here since 06:00 inflating air beds and stocking up food supplies for the families expected to be evacuated from their homes when flooding peaks this evening.

Image source, Environment Agency

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC Midlands Today

The centre of Tenbury Wells, in Worcestershire, is under water.

Cars have been abandoned up to their wheel arches in floods.

I've just watched Severn Area Rescue Association taking a boat to collect a family from their flooded house and been on the phone to a woman stranded upstairs in a cottage as water reached the third step of the stairs.

She doesn't want to leave because she has three cats, but has no power and it's freezing.

Kentchurch Road, in Herefordshire, has suffered some damage due to floodwater.

Image source, James Morgan

The road between Fownhope and Holme Lacy has also partially collapsed.

Image source, Kim Tomkinson

Andy Broxton
BBC Radio Shropshire

This video from Clunton, in south Shropshire, gives you an idea of the strain being put on local drains.

With more rain being forecast over the next few hours it is going to take a while before the situation improves.

BBC Shropshire

Telford and Wrekin Council has opened an emergency flood line centre.

If you're in that area, you can get in touch on 01952 384000.

If you feel your life is in danger, however, you should be dialling 999.

The local authority also has three sites in Ironbridge that you can pick up sandbags if you need them - at the Wharfage car park, Dale End car park and Station Yard car park.

Another relief centre has been set up in Herefordshire - at Leominster Leisure Centre, in Coningsbury Road.

There are also more road closures in the county, mainly on the A4110:

• A4110, in Leintwardine
• A4110, in Eardisland
• A4110, in Stretford
• C1221 in Kingstone
• Bullingham Lane, outside Hereford
• Newtown Road, in Hereford

Nicola Goodwin
Reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

The River Wye in Hereford is expected to continue to rise through this evening and peak overnight.

Newtown Road and Holmer Road in the city are looking particularly bad at the moment and the Yazor Brook has burst its banks

Holmer C of E primary school is also flooded.

Image source, Environment Agency

Image source, Environment Agency

Severe flood warnings, posing a danger to life, are in place at the Teme river in Ludlow, external, Shropshire.

The Environment Agency said water levels are rising because of heavy rainfall, with further downpours expected.

Here is the current picture:

Compared to September 2018:

Image source, Google

If you are in the area of a severe warning, this is what the agency recommends., external.

Police have declared a major incident following flooding in Shropshire.

Similar incidents in nearby Worcestershire and Herefordshire have also been announced.