Shropshire Star

Fire crews rescue stranded cars and clear flooded properties as storms rage over Shropshire

Flash flooding hit Shropshire as thunderstorms battered the county for the fourth night in a row.

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Flooding in Albrighton. Picture: Shropshire Fire and Rescue

A number of properties needed pumping out by the fire service after heavy rain led to flash flooding on Tuesday.

Oswestry's fire and rescue team were called out to three incidents in quick succession shortly before 6pm.

Further storms were forecast for Wednesday with a yellow weather warning in place for rain for much of the UK, including all of Shropshire and Mid Wales.

A flooded property in Oswestry. Picture: Shropshire Fire and Rescue
A flooded property in Oswestry. Picture: Shropshire Fire and Rescue

One of the Oswestry incidents happened in Oswald Road with a crew helping properties suffering from flooding, and another at Park Avenue.

James Lewis, crew manager at Oswestry Fire Station, said the calls had all involved flooding affecting electrics, and added: "Crews assisting at domestic properties also pumping out water in basements of all three properties using light portable pump."

It came after flooding also affected the A41 at Albrighton, with a fire crew required to rescue a family of five who had become stranded in flood water in their car.

Flooding in Albrighton. Picture: Shropshire Fire and Rescue

The road was affected from around 4.30pm through to 7pm.

Thunderstorms struck across the West Midlands and beyond, with parts of Walsall Manor Hospital left flooded and a house in Birmingham struck by lightning.

Meanwhile more than 20 firefighters were called to a house that was struck by lightning in Sheffield.

Steve Evans took this picture of lightning over Shawbury

Five fire crews and a turntable ladder were sent to the house in the Millhouses area of Sheffield on Tuesday evening but the damage was limited to the roof.

The strike happened as a storm moved across the city, bringing a dramatic lightning display and bursts of heavy rain.

Similar storms brought flash flooding to the North West of England, leaving roads and shops submerged.

Thunderstorms also hit parts of Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, causing police to urge drivers to drop their speed following reports of traffic collisions.

An entire street in Milnrow, Rochdale, was flooded after the River Beal burst its banks, and local councillor Andy Kelly said it was the "worst flood he had seen in 20 years".

Pictures of lightning across the region were shared on social media, along with videos of heavy rainfall.