Homes abandoned in floods

Stranded residents in Shrewsbury had to be ferried across rising water to collect their belongings after the swollen River Severn spilled over, flooding roads across the town. Stranded residents in Shrewsbury had to be ferried across rising water to collect their belongings after the swollen River Severn spilled over, flooding roads across the town. Shropshire County Council contractors were able to help Chester Street residents pick up essential items last night. Many people chose to stay elsewhere after the water blocked accesses to car parks and homes. The power in a number of homes in the Chester Street area was also shut down overnight due to the rising river. Last night leading firefighter Phil Davies said: "Some people have stayed and some have elected to leave and stay with friends or relatives. Check out our photographers' photo galleries: Gallery 1 Gallery 2 Gallery 3 Check out our reader photo galleries: Gallery 1 Gallery 2 Gallery 3 See also: Video - It's carry on regardless Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star

Traffic builds up, causing delays in <a href= Shrewsbury centre as the Ellesmere road was closed due to flooding last night. Picture: James Watkins" class="imageframe alignright" height="130" src="http://www.shropshirestar.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/p5.jpg" width="175"/>Stranded residents in Shrewsbury had to be ferried across rising water to collect their belongings after the swollen River Severn spilled over, flooding roads across the town.Shropshire County Council contractors were able to help Chester Street residents pick up essential items last night. Many people chose to stay elsewhere after the water blocked accesses to car parks and homes.

The power in a number of homes in the Chester Street area was also shut down overnight due to the rising river.

Last night leading firefighter Phil Davies said: "Some people have stayed and some have elected to leave and stay with friends or relatives.

"We are risk assessing and contingency planning. We need to know where we can get to and how if we are needed in an emergency.

"Our boat is being permanently crewed throughout the night, which is not a normal procedure.

"We will be popping out every so often to make sure our access to points are available."

Firefighters were also warning people not to go into the water, which was flowing through sewage and bringing in pesticides from nearby fields.

Coleham Head was also flooded thoughout the night with the Seven Stars and The Globe pubs closed. Sandbags were blocking doorways of homes not protected by the flood barriers.

Overnight the fire service did not have major problems caused by flooding.

But yesterday, shortly after 2pm, firefighters with the water ladder attended the River Severn off the A49 at Sundorne after a caller mistook a tree stump for a cow stuck in the water.

The fire service described the call as "false alarm good intent".

A spokesman for Shrewsbury Police said the flooding also caused traffic chaos in the town. He said: "At one point there were tailbacks all the way from the Edgebold island to the Sundorne island."

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