Fairfield High School minibus pulled from flood water

School minibus stuck in floodwater photographed by a pupil at Fairfield High School

A school minibus with 14 children and a driver on board has been pulled from floodwater in Herefordshire.

The minibus became trapped became trapped in Whitchurch at about 08:30 BST, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said.

"With the help of a local farmer, we were able to attach a winch to the minibus and pull it safely out," the fire service's Kevin Giles said.

The Fairfield High School students were then able to continue their journey.

Flood warnings

By then however, the school had been closed for the day because of flooding in the area from the River Dore, a spokesman said.

Head teacher Sue Gaston said the school was "quite isolated", being accessible only by two narrow lanes.

"I think it would be very difficult to judge the amount of water there was in the lane at that time," she said.

The flooded River Dore, which flows through Peterchurch, Herefordshire

The fire service said they also rescued a woman stuck in her van in Peterchurch Lane at 07:10.

Boat crews from Hereford and Worcester worked with firefighters from Ross-on-Wye and Ewyas Harold.

The woman was brought to safety after being trapped for half an hour.

The fire service has warned motorists to avoid driving through flood water, which may be deeper than it looks and may hide open drains or collapsed culverts.

A flood warning remains on the River Severn in Worcestershire, the Environment Agency has said.

Warnings are in place at Kempsey, Callow End, Clifton and Severn Stoke. A warning for the River Teme has now been lifted.

The Met Office said it has been the wettest April in the UK for over 100 years.