River levels to fall but more rain forecast - EA

BBC River TemeBBC
Properties near the River Teme flooded over the weekend

River levels have fallen along parts of the River Severn but more rain is due later in the week, officials said.

Warnings remain along the river, as the Environment Agency said flooding from Storm Babet could last for days.

A man in his 60s died after being swept away on the Shropshire/Worcestershire border, near Far Forest, on Friday.

A landlord said he expects his pub to flood while other residents described watching water race past their properties.

Three more people were known to have died in the floods, one in Derbyshire and two in Scotland, as much of the country was deluged with rain.

Fresh warnings were issued for Bridgnorth, Quatford, Hampton Loade and Highley in Shropshire on Sunday.

People in Herefordshire and Worcestershire are also being told to expect more flooding in coming days.

Chris and Joan Birkett's
Chris and Joan Birkett's Temeside properties were affected

Flood barriers have gone up in Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bewdley, with a number of roads and car parks closed.

Chris and Joan Birkett were among those whose properties in Ludlow, Shropshire, flooded over the weekend.

The River Teme burst and water flooded into their home and a holiday cottage.

"Even though we had flood gates on you could see it seeping through," said Mrs Birkett.

Dale End, Ironbridge
Flood barriers are up in Ironbridge, Shropshire

Guests staying in the cottage were getting rather alarmed, as the water was rushing past at great speed, she added.

"We packed them up and moved them into a spare bedroom in our house," she said.

She added at that time a warning had not been issued for the river.

"Fortunately we had been following the Environment Agency website so we could see levels rising so we knew what was going to happen," she said.

The landlord of the Boat Inn, at Jackfield near Ironbridge, which regularly floods when the River Severn rises, said he was fully expecting water to affect the pub.

Mario Thomas
Landlord of The Boat Inn, Mario Thomas, said he is resigned to being flooded

"The electrics are high up so we don't have to worry about those, the fridges have been removed, and the furniture - some of it has gone upstairs into the living quarters," Mario Thomas said.

"I'm not going to cry over it, there's nothing I can do about it.

"If I was worried about it I wouldn't have took [the pub] on."

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Road closures and disruption from Telford & Wrekin Council include:

  • The Wharfage, Ironbridge
  • Ferry Road, Jackfield
  • Jiggers Bank (due to ongoing improvement works)
  • Number 96 bus service (Select) unable to serve Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale
  • Number 8 bus service (Arriva) diverting via Madeley Road

In Shrewsbury, Shropshire Council says the closures include:

  • Coleham Head Lane Closure (Severn Trent pump deployment)
  • Old Coleham
  • Longden Coleham into town centre
  • Berwick Road
  • Smithfield Rd (lane closure)
  • Roushill
  • Victoria Ave
  • Raven Meadows
  • Frankwell and St Julian's Friars car parks

The roads between Atcham and Cross Houses, and Cressage and Eaton Constantine have also been shut.

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Shropshire Council said parking was limited around Shrewsbury town centre, and had put a traffic management plan in place.

Visitors were encouraged to use the park and ride bus service wherever possible.

Nick Green of the Environment Agency said an "incredible" amount of water had been dumped by Storm Babet.

"The river levels in Shropshire will be receding but don't expect a big drop-off, they will fall but there is more rain forecast from Wednesday this week and into next week, so it really does look like an unsettled picture" he added.

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