Roads flooded as river Severn in Worcester bursts banks

Roads were closed and a school was forced to shut as flooding began to impact Worcester and the wider county. 

More heavy rain came overnight into Tuesday morning making it a misery for drivers trying to navigate through flooded roads. 

More rain is forecast for Worcestershire on Wednesday night, while heavy rain is forecast for Thursday.

FLOODING: A reader has sent in this picture from Eckington Bridge where they said two vehicles were stuck (Image: From public)Firefighters carried out rescues in Huddington and Fladbury on Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday morning as cars were stuck in floodwater. 

Throughout Tuesday Jubilee Bridge, Fladbury; Brook Lane, Cropthorne; Eckington Bridge; Brook Lane, Cropthorn; Bransford Court Lane, Bransford and New Street, Upton, were all closed due to flooding.

Himbleton CE First School announced it was closed on Wednesday morning, Worcestershire County Council saying this was due to severe flooding of the local area making access to school via all possible routes unsafe. 

Pupils had to switch to remote learning for the day. 

The River Severn began flooding at South Quay at around 10am. Only hours earlier a flood alert had been issued for the river warning flooding of roads and farmland was possible.

Flood barriers went up on Yeliz Blossom House, based at The Old Rectifying House, in preparation if the water level reached its door.

The Environment Agency said it expected river levels to remain high until Thursday.

BARRIERS: Flooding barriers on Yeliz Blossom House based at the former Old Rectifying House (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

Locations coming under that alert are Stourport, Holt Fleet, Worcester, Kempsey, Severn Stoke, Upton upon Severn, South Quay, Diglis Parade and Hylton Road towpath. 

A flood alert on Barbourne Brook remained in place. 

The flood alert for the River Avon at Wyre Piddle, Strensham and Bredon, was upgraded to the higher flood warning. 

That means flooding is no longer just possible but expected with people warned to take immediate action. 

BURST: River Severn burst its banks (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

The warning, issued at 7.30am on Tuesday morning, says: "River levels are rising at the Evesham river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall.

"Consequently, flooding of property, roads and farmland is expected to continue.

"We expect flooding to affect properties and roads in Wyre Piddle including Wyre Piddle caravan park.

"Eckington Road impassable.

UNDERPASS: Insp Tanner of South Worcestershire Patrol took this picture of flooding under the Tibberton underpass (Image: Insp Tanner of South Worcestershire Patrol)

"Please move possessions and valuables off the ground or to safety and avoid contact with flood water."

The rest of the river, including Offenham, Evesham, Twyning and the Eckington Road, remains at a flood alert level.

Worcester Golf and Country Club said more than 30mm of rain has fallen since Sunday.

"Our great course, any course, just can’t cope with the deluge," the club said on social media.