Events off and flood warnings issued as Shropshire endures a snowy, slushy Easter
Rain, sleet and snow across Shropshire and Mid Wales has seen event cancellations and attractions closed over the Easter Bank Holiday.
Today's annual point-to-point racing at Eyton near Shrewsbury was postponed for fear of injury to the horses and riders, while National Trust property Erddig Hall closed because of flooded car parks.
Today's AFC Telford match against Leamington has been postponed because the pitch is waterlogged. This afternoon's match between Whitchurch Alport and FC Oswestry Town has also been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
And this afternoon's children's racing at Hoo Farm near Telford was cancelled because of the weather. The event was a replacement for the venue's popular sheep racing which was scrapped after pressure from animal rights group Lambentations.
Meanwhile, flood alerts have been issued for rivers and brooks across the county and will more rain forecast there are fears that the River Severn could start to rise.
Drivers are being warned to watch out for standing water on roads because of the overnight snow and rain falling on already saturated land, with flooding reported on the A488 at Hanwood and the A458 at Ford.
Police and Environment Agency staff warned motorists not to drive through flood water.
A driver escaped uninjured after his car left the Oswestry to Gobowen Road and overturned on Saturday.
Police Constable Dave Wagg said: "The vehicle involved appears to have been driven through standing water on the Gobowen Road heading out of Oswestry, as a result the vehicle has landed upon its roof in a field next to the carriageway.
"Fortunately the driver escaped uninjured. We would like to remind motorists to drive cautiously particularly after heavy rainfall and to report any areas of flooding so that appropriate signage can be deployed to warn motorists."
Today many people in Shropshire and the Welsh Hills woke to overnight snow that quickly turned to rain.
Easter revellers hoping to visit the annual Bank Holiday Point-to-Point racing at Eyton-on-Severn were left disappointed when the event was postponed.
Organisers said that the safety of the horses had to come first and apologised to the volunteers who had spend many days getting the site ready for the event.
Two National Trust properties had to turn visitors away on Sunday.
Erddig Hall on the Shropshire/north Wales border closed because its car parks were waterlogged and when scores of families went instead to enjoy the Easter egg hunt at nearby Chirk Castle staff there had to turn people away in the afternoon because its car parks were full.
Dave Throup from the Environment Agency said: "There are a lot of river locations where levels are high and flooding is possible and this could change as overnight rain works through into other rivers.
"If you are travelling be flood aware and don't drive through floodwaters."
Rivers affected in Shropshire include the Rea and Cound Brooks near Shrewsbury the rivers Teme, Onny Corve and their tributaries and the Ledwyche Brook all in south Shropshire.
Shropshire holidaymakers spending Easter at the popular Kiln Park caravan park in Tenby were today faced with a Flood Warning, the most serious issued by Natural Resources Wales, with fears the park could be under water.
