Staffordshire flooding: Travel disruption and car rescues

Gaz Thomas, in Lichfield, tweeted this picture of flooding at Hopwas

Flooding has affected several roads in Staffordshire.

The county's fire service tweeted that crews had rescued 36 sheep from flooded areas in Stone and Newcastle-under-Lyme on Sunday.

A number of people were also rescued from cars stuck in water. The A34 southbound in Stone was blocked by flood water.

A number of flood warnings were issued for the county by the Environment Agency.

The River Tean at Upper Tean, Lower Tean and Checkley, the River Churnet and the River Dove were all at risk.

Rail problems

The fire service said more severe weather was expected on Sunday night and urged people to take care on the roads.

Earlier the M42 southbound between junctions 11 and 10 was flooded but has since reopened.

Staffordshire County Council tweeted that the A34 near the Darlaston roundabout both ways, the A518 near Amerton Farm and A51 at Weston were all closed.

Other roads affected were the A518 near Amerton Farm, Mill Lane in Great Haywood, Meadow Lane in Little Haywood and Meece Road near Yarnfield, according to the council.

London Midland said there were problems between Stoke-On-Trent and Stone, as well as Stafford and Crewe, due to flooding.

Common sense plea

Disruption was due to last until 23:00 GMT, the operator said.

West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has urged people not to drive through flood water.

WMAS general manager Nathan Hudson said: "We were called out to several incidents where cars have tried to pass through flooded roads, fords and small rivers and got stuck.

"It is quite simple: driving through flood water is inherently dangerous.

"The emergency services have had to risk difficult and often dangerous conditions in the middle of the night.

"A little bit of common sense from the public will ensure that no-one's life is put in any unnecessary danger."