Hereford to Malvern rail line closes after flood damage

Trains between Great Malvern and Hereford have been cancelled after rain caused an embankment to subside.

A spokesman for rail firm London Midland said an existing problem with a hole under the track has been made worse by heavy overnight rain.

London Midland said it was impossible to say when the line would reopen.

There were no trains running between Hereford and Shrewsbury due to flooding, according to the National Rail Enquiries website.

Arriva Trains Wales said disruption to services in Herefordshire and Shropshire would continue on Tuesday.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to more than 40 flood-related incidents.

'Horrible and frightening'

A spokesman said Broadbridge near Bromyard was particularly badly affected, with crews called to three separate incidents where vehicles had become stranded in flood water, one of which involved horses in a horse box.

The rain also led to firefighters using boats to rescue two people after their van was caught in floods in Herefordshire.

In June Network Rail released a photograph of the earlier problem with the line

The fire service said they were called to Lower Hill near the A4110 at Aulden at about 07:50 BST.

Passenger Dean Brown said the water reached his knees inside the van. He and a colleague used the vehicle's horn to attract attention.

He said it was a "horrible and frightening" experience.

The Met Office said on Twitter that in 24 hours Hereford had 64.6mm (2.5in) of rainfall recorded, making it "one of the wettest places in the country".

A flood warning was issued by the Environment Agency for the River Teme at Stanford Bridge in Herefordshire.

In Worcestershire, Feckenham CE First School was closed due to flooding in the area, the county council said.

Bus services in the Sinton Green were delayed by flooding and land slip, the authority added.

The company which runs Hereford Leisure Centre has said it was closed due to flooding.