Multiple flood alerts across West Midlands as Storm Ciarán hits

Flood alerts have been issued by the Environment Agency for rivers across the West Midlands

Multiple flood alerts have been issued in the West Midlands as Storm Ciarán batters parts of the UK.

Alerts have been issued for rivers across the region where flooding is possible, the Environment Agency has warned.

Low-lying land near to the River Sow and River Penk in Staffordshire are at risk along with areas close to the River Swift in Warwickshire.

Land alongside the Tern and Perry rivers in Shropshire may also flood.

A Met Office yellow weather warning is in place for much of the West Midlands, with heavy rain forecasted across the day.

Strong winds and torrential rain have been making their way across southern England, with gusts of more than 110mph (160km/h) in France and the Channel Islands.

Major incidents have been declared in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Jersey, with hundreds of schools shut across southern England and dozens of residents in Jersey evacuated.

Commuters heading between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton experienced travel disruption on Thursday morning, after a tree fell on to a railway track in Telford, although that has since been cleared.

In Herefordshire, a flood alert has been issued for the River Lugg south of Leominster, while in Bewdley, Worcestershire, Environment Agency officers have replaced demountable flood barriers, which were taken down following Storm Babet.

Residents living near the Severn-Vyrnwy confluence in north Shropshire have also been warned that flooding is possible.

A flood alert was issued on Thursday afternoon for the Upper Teme, near Ludlow.