Appeal to 'stay alert' after flooding in region

The Environment Agency (EA) is asking people to "stay alert", following flooding in the West Midlands.

More than 30 flood warnings are in place across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

The EA said the top end of the River Wye had peaked, but levels in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, would reach about 4.5m to 4.8m on Sunday.

In Shropshire, the River Severn has peaked in Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth.

But earlier the agency said it was already starting to see water levels rising again in the north of the county.

Roy Stokes, from the EA's flood team in the West Midlands, said extra rain had "pushed the Wye back up again".

He told BBC Hereford & Worcester on Sunday morning: "We didn't quite get as high as we did a couple of days ago, but nonetheless [it's] still very worrying for people.

"The message is to stay alert, keep your eye on things, because everywhere is so wet and saturated now that any additional rainfall falling on those catchments, we're likely to see those levels come back up again."

Mr Stokes added the Severn "didn't react as quickly as you might expect", but rain on Saturday morning had meant "a very gradual increase in levels, which will carry on for some days".

Several elderly and vulnerable residents were evacuated from their homes on Greyfriars Avenue in Hereford on Saturday evening after warnings that the river could peak at 6m.

But flood warden, Colin Taylor, said it eventually peaked at below 4.8m on Sunday and people had been allowed to return home.

"We are pleased it didn't flood but a little frustrated at all the effort yesterday. However everybody is ok, that's the main thing, lots of tears of relief," he said.

In Bewdley, Worcestershire, temporary flood defences at Beales Corner protected properties along the riverside, said the EA.

The Cock & Magpie pub manager, Sean Dixon, said: "We would definitely be closed otherwise and a lot of our equipment and stock would get ruined. So, yeah, it's saved us."

Resident Ruth Hegarty said she was "relieved, but still slightly apprehensive" about the floodwater in the town.

She added: "We don't know what else the weather's going to throw at us.

"We normally flood in February, so this is very early. So we'll have to wait and see."

Gary Edwards lives in the area and said he had only been back in his home for about three months after previous flooding damaged his house.

"With a bit of luck, everyone's all right. As long as my neighbours are ok, that's all I'm worried about," he said.

Forecasted peaks on Sunday include 7m to 7.2m at Kempsey yacht club and 5.4m to 5.5m in Worcester.

The county council said in Worcester the main city bridge was open to all traffic, but footways were closed both sides at the bottom of Hylton Road and the floodgate by the University of Worcester Arena had been shut.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service and Shropshire Council made a safety warning after reports of children being seen entering floodwaters.

A rescue boat was sent out after a young person was seen playing in the water in Shrewsbury on Saturday, but CCTV revealed they had made their own way to safety, the fire service said.

"The floodwaters bring a lot of hazards. It's not only contaminated with sewage but also it can raise manhole covers where children can fall down," station manager Craig Jackson said.

The Environment Agency planned to start removing flood defences at Coleham Head in Shrewsbury on Sunday, Shropshire Council said.

Speaking in Bewdley, Chris Bainger, from the EA, said: "As we can, we will remove certain parts, so today [Sunday] upstream in Shrewsbury one or two parts are being removed.

"But the majority is going to stay in place well into the end of next week."

Meanwhile, a yellow warning for ice for the West Midlands, relating to Shropshire and Staffordshire, has been issued by the Met Office.

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