EMERGENCY boat crews have carried out dramatic rescues including coming to the aid of seven stricken passengers after their bus got stuck in flood water near Worcester.
Rising flood water from the swollen Rivers Severn and Avon continues to cause widespread disruption including the closure of roads, bridges and car parks and the flooding of homes.
Despite the impact of the deluge, some roads and bridges have reopened after Worcestershire was battered by two successive storms over Christmas and New Year.
A second peak in river levels arrived on the Severn yesterday (Friday) following an earlier peak on Wednesday.
Firefighters have so far responded to nearly 30 incidents of cars in flood water during this latest episode of flooding across the county after heavy rain from Storm Gerrit followed by Storm Henk.
The River Severn peak on Friday morning reached a level of between 5.5 metres and 5.6 metres at the at Pitchcroft with levels expected to remain high for the next few days.
The highest level ever recorded at the River Severn at Worcester (Barbourne) was 5.79 metres.
The Environment Agency deployed a mobile pump on Friday with another on its way to maintain surface water on the dry side of the Hylton Road flood defences.
Highways teams from @Ringway_Worcs managing the contraflow in Worcester City centre were quick to react when a low-flying swan collided with a traffic sign today
— Worcs County Council Highways & Travel (@WorcsTravel) January 5, 2024
Steve Goodall soon rescued the swan & is keeping it safe & warm until teams from the local swan sanctuary arrive 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/nwd2nPeNbv
Two crews – one each from Droitwich and Wyre Forest Fire Stations – plus the boat crew from Worcester Fire Station was called at 12.28pm on Friday to a vehicle in water in Shrawley.
A spokesman said: "Crews rescued seven passengers from a bus using a water rescue vehicle and the incident was left with police who were also in attendance. The incident was marked as closed at 1.28pm."
Across the two counties, and during the period from 7am on Tuesday, January 2 to 7am on Friday, January 5, there have been 28 calls to vehicles in water, 10 calls to incidents of flooding of internal electrics and a further 14 calls to external flooding incidents.
Car parks in Worcester remained closed yesterday including Cattlemarket, Croft Road, Pitchcroft and Newport Street while the Sabrina Bridge and Diglis Bridge remain closed. However, Crowngate Bus Station was open with passengers advised to check before travelling.
Gardens and backyards are flooded in Diglis Avenue and Portland Street in Diglis. However, the Diglis House Hotel was open for business. Although the gardens are flooded, the hotel itself and the patio are open.
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Deputy manager Emma Sheldon said the Diglis Hotel was an ideal place to view the floods.
"We have already had a few in to look," she said.
The Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service boat crew from Evesham Fire Station was called at 6.41pm on January 4 to evacuate two people from a property, due to flooding, in Hanley Road, Upton-upon-Severn using a swiftwater rescue team boat.
A fire service spokesperson said: "There were no casualties and no other emergency services attended. The B4211 Hanley Road was blocked due to flooding."
A swan crashed into the contraflow sign in Worcester City centre on Friday with the injured animal left in the care of Highways worker Steve Goodall who rescued the bird and kept it safe and warm until teams from the local swan sanctuary arrived.
All Evesham bridges and Waterside are now open and Pershore Bridge. But Jubilee Bridge in Fladbury and Eckington Bridge were closed.
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