Flood risk in Shropshire as River Severn swells

Crews were seen in Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bewdley putting up temporary barriers over the weekend to protect homes and businesses, and the government predicts river levels to stay high until Tuesday.

Paths were flooded in Shrewsbury, and fields outside the town were swamped by the rising river level today.

The Environment Agency said this morning: "Our teams are working hard to deploy temporary flood barriers in Ironbridge and Wribbenhall to help protect from rising River Severn levels.

"Barriers are already in place in Shrewsbury and Bewdley."

Chris Bainger from the Environments Agency said this morning that about 220 tonnes of water had flowed past the Welsh Bridge in Shrewsbury per second, and that the river was 3.5 metres higher than usual.

The government flooding department said: "River levels have risen at the Welsh Bridge river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall.

"Flooding is affecting Gravel Hill Lane, Sydney Avenue, Victoria Avenue, Frankwell car park and St Julians Friars car park.

"The land behind a wall at Coton Hill and the B5067 Berwick Road are also impacted by flooding.

"Our incident response staff are manning defences. Please avoid using low-lying footpaths near local watercourses."

The annual Shrewsbury 10k had its route altered to avoid affected parts of the Quarry park, while the Frankwell Riverside car park was closed for safety reasons.

At the Welsh Bridge, the river was predicted to reach its peak height of 4.20 to 4.30m tomorrow. The highest level ever recorded there was 5.25m on November 1, 2000.

Meanwhile at Crew Green, west of Shrewsbury, the peak this evening is expected to be about 6.30m.

At the Buildwas gauge near Ironbridge, the river is expected to reach a peak of 5.2 to 5.5m on Tuesday morning.

The government's flood warning system said: "River levels have risen at the Buildwas river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall. Consequently, the risk of flooding remains.

"Flooding is affecting low-lying land and roads adjacent to the river from Shrewsbury to Upper Arley. Other locations that may be affected include Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. Please plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded."

At Melverley, on the Shropshire/Powys border, the River Vyrnwy reached a peak of 4.47m this morning and walkers were advised to stay away from low-lying footpaths.

At Bewdley, near Kidderminster, roads and farms will be flooded for the next few days, with the river expected to remain high until Thursday.

The flood advice system said: "Flooding is affecting low-lying land and roads adjacent to the river from Highley to Tewkesbury.

"Other locations that may be affected include Stourport, Holt Fleet, Worcester, Kempsey, Severn Stoke and Upton-upon-Severn. We are closely monitoring the situation.

"Our incident response staff have erected demountable flood barriers at Severnside and Beales Corner in Bewdley."

Homes in the Bangor-on-Dee area have also suffered flooding and farmers had a race against time to move their sheep from low lying fields.

Wayne Meredith from Ellesmere was driving to work at 5.30am today when his van got stuck on the Wrexham Road just outside the village.

"I drive that road everyday and when the river is high there are usually road closed and warning signs out and I divert. But this morning there were no signs. It was pitch black."

As he realised water had covered the road a lorry passed him.

"The tidal wave from the lorry shorted out something on my van and I was stuck," he said.

"The water was getting higher and higher very quickly."

Friends, Les and Jude Mousdale went to Wayne's rescue with their 4x4 vehicle and he said by the time he was tying the tow rope to his van the water was knee high and running very fast.

"There were cars continuing to try to get down the road, not wanting to be late for work. I tried to stop them but they carried on and of course got stuck. It was a mess, tractors were coming out to pull them out," he said.

"If the warning signs had been out I wouldn't have attempted the drive."

Further upstream in Llangollen the water on the Dee raced through Llangollen just inches from pouring over the flood defence wall.

Flood warnings are in force for the length of the River Dee today and also in the town of Bala.

Runners taking part in the Wrexham Running Festival, including many from Shropshire found themselves having to wade thigh deep through a flooded lane on the edge of the town.