Worcestershire flooding closes roads, train lines and schools

Some roads in Norton, Worcester, had to be closed because of flooding

Flooding has forced the closure of five schools, rail lines and a main road in Worcestershire.

Crowle First School near Worcester, Feckenham First School near Redditch and Castlemorton Primary School near Malvern were closed.

St Richard's First School in Evesham and Tibberton First School in Droitwich were also shut.

The A44 was earlier closed at Broadwas, six miles north of Great Malvern, and rail lines have been disrupted.

London Midland said flooding had closed rail lines between Great Malvern and Hereford and between Barnt Green and Droitwich Spa.

The operator said it was running bus replacement services between Great Malvern and Hereford.

Sport events cancelled

It also advised passengers for Droitwich Spa to use the diverted services via Stourbridge Junction.

Drivers were also warned of hazardous conditions on the A38 in Droitwich Spa, near the junction of the A442 Kidderminster Road, because of flooding.

The Environment Agency issued four flood warnings along four points of the River Avon in Worcestershire.

Thursday's race meeting at Hereford has been abandoned after the ground became waterlogged.

In Evesham, a regatta due to take place at the weekend has been cancelled.

A message on the Evesham Rowing Club website said: "There is no prospect of the river being rowable on Saturday."

Norton in Worcester was particularly affected with Woodbury Lane closed at about 14:00 GMT due to flooding.

A spokesperson at The Retreat Inn in Norton said: "It's been more quiet than usual since the road closure but we're still getting customers as there are other routes to get to us."

Police warned surface water had been causing problems on roads and warned drivers to be careful.

The Environment Agency has produced a live flood warnings map to alert people to potential problems in their areas.

BBC Midlands Today weather presenter Shefali Oza said the rain was due to die down across the region throughout Wednesday but added that heavy rain was expected on Thursday.

She said parts of the region were likely to get 20-50mm of rain, with Herefordshire

and Worcestershire due to be the worst affected.