Shropshire on flood alert as rivers rise

Shropshire was on flood alert today as the summer washout continued. Alerts are in place on the Lower Teme, near Ludlow, and at Reabrook and Cound Brook in Shrewsbury.

At Cound Brook the river level was measured at 1.4 metres and rising today.

The River Corve, near Ludlow and the Tern and Perry catchments, close to the villages of Roden, Rodington and Walcot, are also on alert.

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It comes after weeks of heavy rain which has put the Environment Agency on a state of alert for the fifth weekend in a row.

Across the Midlands a total of 11 flood alerts are in place.

The Met Office has predicted more heavy rain today, tomorrow and into next week.

Sunday – St Swithin's Day – could provide a respite from the downpours with cloud and sunny intervals predicted across the county.

David Hudson, area manager for the EA in the Midlands, warned that the unprecedented summer rainfall was yet to show signs of disappearing.

Posting on Twitter, he said: "We're still not out of the summer flooding yet. Tomorrow (Friday) now designated 'Event Six' for summer 2012. We are planning our fifth straight weekend on alert."

The wet weather has already forced the cancellation of many summer events and shows countywide.

Farmers have said the deluge is beginning to hit crops and retailers north of the border in Scotland say it has cut consumer spending on the high street.

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