Back to Shrewsbury, where a risk-to-life flood warning remains in place, although the Severn there has peaked and levels are falling.

On water's surface, the flooded streets look calm, and there are swans floating about.

But people are being warned over dangerous pieces of debris that might have washed up, which are not visible to someone wading through the water.

Carl Huntley, from business Base Architecture, just off flooded commercial strip Smithfield, said: "You've got planks that are seven or eight foot long, comes all over the place, and there's oil and debris in there."

Footage shows how water from the swollen Severn poured over the top of temporary flood barriers in Beales Corner, Bewdley, last night.

The defences are not the main ones in town. Those barriers remain in place in Severnside, although people are advised to avoid the area.

James Pearson
BBC Hereford & Worcester

A man who had to be rescued on a boat by fire crews in Bewdley said floodwater in his house had "reached knee height" before he left.

Justin Leach and his partner live in the Beales Corner area of town. They had to leave when the River Severn poured over the top of flood defences last night.

"About 21:00 we noticed the water was coming over the barriers just a little bit," he said. "We set our alarm every two hours just to keep tabs on it, see what we needed to do."

They were rescued with their dogs this morning and said while they had insurance, things were ruined. "It'll all need replacing or fixing," he said.

We've been bringing you breaking news during the last few minutes about water getting through barriers in Ironbridge, Shropshire - in that case, water was getting underneath.

But water has also got through elsewhere - over the top of defences in Bewdley, Worcestershire.

These aerial shots of Bewdley were taken by a West Midlands Ambulance Service drone. The river there is expected to peak later today.

Image source, WMAS

Image source, WMAS

The compromised flood barrier at The Wharfage in Ironbridge "moved approximately six feet across the road", according to police.

Ch Supt Tom Harding of the West Mercia force said it appeared, however, the barrier was still structurally sound, albeit "flexing".

He said: "It’s not performing as we would want it to."

Ch Supt Harding said structural engineers were looking at the barrier, adding it was in part resting against some properties, but that, he said, was supporting things to an extent.

Describing the situation as an emergency, he said he was now looking at things in terms of a "practical worst case scenario", and added "virtually everyone" had agreed to leave their homes.

The Environment Agency has confirmed water is seeping underneath flood defences at The Wharfage in Ironbridge, but says there's no surge.

Chris Bainger from the body said: "[The water] hasn’t broken through or anything like that.

"There is a bit of water that’s getting underneath and the barriers have become ineffective. No failure or anything like that."

He added pumps behind the barriers were able to deal with the water currently, but said levels would rise.

Homes in the Wharfage are being evacuated as a precaution.

Image source, Shaun Davies

The Ironbridge flood barrier on the Wharfage has shifted back several feet in places.

Telford and Wrekin Council has urged people to stay away while the emergency services deal with what the authority called "a developing situation".

Here's Chris Bainger from the Environment Agency with more info. He describes the evacuation as an emergency, and adds the defences have become "ineffective"...

West Mercia Police says it appears water could be coming underneath flood barriers in Ironbridge as defences buckle in places.

People in the town have reported hearing a noise as the barriers shifted from their base.

Here's the force's top officer with an update from the scene.

Police say they are carrying out an immediate evacuation in Ironbridge, saying temporary barriers have become "overwhelmed".

It's unclear whether water from the Severn is coming through. The Shropshire town has this week been subject to a risk-to-life, severe flood warning.

According to the Environment Agency, the barriers had shifted.

Motorists and bus passengers are facing more disruption in Worcestershire as river levels continue to rise.

Image source, DCSS

The county council says there are two bridges, the Diglis and Sabrina, completely closed in Worcester, while the main bridge is shut eastbound. , external

It adds for drivers travelling between Worcester and Malvern, the A4103 and A449 are expected to stay open, but the A38 Severn Stoke may be affected by flooding later today., external

Bus operator First Worcestershire says Crowngate bus station remains closed and several services have been suspended or face being diverted., external

The University of Worcester says, external its library in the city remains open but has described the view from its offices as "Worcester-on-sea".

The library's based at the Hive site, not far from the rising River Severn...

Image source, University of Worcester

Image source, University of Worcester

Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands Today

Dozens of homes and buildings have been flooded in Bewdley after the River Severn came over flood barriers in part of the town.

Image source, PA Media

West Mercia Police says 38 properties in the Beales Corner area are affected, and a number of residents have been rescued by fire crews. Several are refusing to leave.

Fire crews are visiting and checking buildings in the area as more flooding is expected, with river levels set to rise.

Image source, PA Media

Flooding overnight in Bewdley has produced scenes "I hoped I would never see", an Environment Agency boss has tweeted., external

Image source, PA Media

Dave Throup said the river levels in the town were "exceptional" and the highest since 2000.

Water poured over the top of temporary defences in Beales Corner last night and the River Severn is still rising in Bewdley today.

Mr Throup said he was expecting a peak in Bewdley this afternoon, followed by one overnight in Worcester.

We've been telling you this morning about the Severn peaking in Shrewsbury.

This Environment Agency graph shows river levels at the Welsh Bridge gauge since the weekend.

As you can see, the Severn is starting to fall in Shrewsbury, but is set to remain above that red line, which suggests a risk to property.

Image source, Environment Agency

River levels in Bridgnorth are expected to carry on climbing to a peak of up to 5.3m this afternoon., external

Sally Themans, from the Love Bridgnorth group, says she's taken heart from the support there's been for businesses in nearby Shrewsbury and Ironbridge where there are risk-to-life flood warnings.

"Even if our businesses aren't flooded," she said, "they're still being affected, because people are staying away."

Image source, Claire Mathias

Image source, Claire Mathias

A woman who runs a hair salon in a village in the Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire, says there's a lot of flood damage after days of high river levels.

Brooke Evans spent the night at the businesses on Dale End, Coalbrookdale.

She said: "There are ducks swimming past me which is quite peculiar. We are trying to pump out the water from the cellar - that keeps rising really high, and then we pump it out and it keeps rising again.

"Any more and we won't be able to get out, so we're hoping the flood levels, they start to go down now.

"It's so bizarre, you genuinely feel like you're on an island."

Disruption to trains in and out of Shrewsbury is likely to last for the rest of the day, National Rail Enquiries has warned.

All services, except for the ones to Crewe and Chester, were suspended at 14:00 yesterday, and although the tracks were clear, rising river levels around the Severn Railway Bridge caused "safety concerns" for Network Rail.

As you can see from the photo above, with only a few trains running, the station is very quiet.

This morning we've been concentrating on the situation in Shropshire - particularly Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth - and Worcestershire, where Bewdley remains on alert, and Worcester where parts of the town are shut.

But here's your reminder there are other areas of the Midlands caught up in flooding.

Drayton Manor in Tamworth, Staffordshire, says it expects to reopen its Thomas Land attraction on Saturday.

Image source, Drayton Manor

Flooding hit the theme park last week when heavy rainfall during Storm Dennis caused a lake there to burst its banks.

The main part of the Drayton Manor site isn't due to open for the new season until 25 March.

In Hereford, a long stretch of road is closing from today for emergency repairs after flooding last week.

Herefordshire Council said, external Hinton Road would shut between 09:00 and 17:00 every day up to and including Saturday.

The resurfacing work runs between the junctions with Hinton Crescent and Cumbrae Avenue.

The forecast for the next few days and into the weekend is not looking good.

The Met Office tells us to expect snow and rain, some of it heavy, and the Environment Agency has warned this could mean more flooding.

There's also concern about rain and snow forecast for mid Wales, which could bring more water down the already-swollen River Severn.

Most of the rain forecast is expected to be light, though, and there are no Met Office warnings for storms like Ciara or Dennis which started the Midlands flooding.

A mum of four says she and her family are staying put in Bewdley, Worcestershire, despite living close to where the River Severn has come over the top of temporary barriers.

Image source, PA Media

The river rose above the top of defences at Beales Corner although didn't trouble the town's main defences, the Environment Agency said.

Sarah lives nearby and while there's water in her cellar, she remains at home.

“Because we’re a bigger family, when there’s six of you, mobilising us and coming to stay [elsewhere] is going to be difficult. I also think it might be a bit upsetting for the kids.

“If I thought there was any real danger we would go but at the moment we’re staying put.”