Travel disruption following flooding

Flooding has meant a number of roads and railway routes in Shropshire and Herefordshire remain closed on Thursday.

Several schools have also been forced to shut, along with Hereford Leisure Centre.

Transport for Wales said there was still disruption to its services, with flooding on the line between Shrewsbury and Wellington. Replaced buses were in operation, it added.

In parts of Shropshire, more than the average rainfall for the whole of October came down in just 24 hours, according to the Environment Agency (EA).

Sarah Knight, the landlord of The Bucks Head pub in the centre of Church Stretton, Shropshire, said the venue had helped people who were left stranded amid travel disruption.

She said some people stayed in her rooms and she had asked various bed and breakfasts to find places for others.

She also asked residents, she said, whether they could make rooms available, adding: "Four couples have stayed in various places in people's homes because they couldn't get anywhere."

But not everyone was as lucky. "Unfortunately I think there were a few people that had to sleep in their cars," Ms Knight explained.

Disrupted schools across the counties include Peterchurch School in Herefordshire, which said it would remain closed on both Thursday and Friday on the advice of the fire service. Water has had to be pumped out of the building.

Wigmore primary and secondary schools in Leominster also took the decision to close on Thursday because of "extensive flooding and road closures", with lessons moving online.

In Shropshire, Shrewsbury Cathedral Catholic Primary said it too would be closed on Thursday.

On the roads, Ed Bradford, who is responsible for highways at Herefordshire Council, said 21 routes were shut, and described it as a "rapidly changing situation".

He added the council was "starting to see these events happening more frequently" but it was difficult to predict where flash flooding would happen.

"It's not just about drainage capacity," he explained.

Emergency services repeated their warning not to drive through flood water.

Flood warnings remain in place on the rivers Teme, Lugg, Vyrnwy and Wye and on the Rea Brook.

The EA said river levels were expected to continue to rise and some flood barriers might be deployed on Thursday.

The weather was expected to remain unsettled over the weekend and people should check for flood warnings, a spokesperson added.

The railway line between Shrewsbury and Wellington was likely to remain closed throughout the morning, according to operators who said trains between Wellington and Wolverhampton would continue.

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