River Severn Flooding: Homes and businesses evacuated

People have been rescued, properties evacuated and trains cancelled due to flooding along the River Severn.

A major incident has been declared in Bewdley, Worcestershire, and large parts of Shrewsbury town centre are under water.

A severe flood warning is in place at the Wharfage in Ironbridge, meaning there could be a risk to life, and the barriers are expected to be breached.

There are 23 flood warnings across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Transport For Wales said there were no trains between Hereford and Shrewsbury on Tuesday because of flooding on the line. Several roads have also been closed.

The flooding follows heavy rain during three storms over the last week – Dudley, Eunice and Franklin.

Franklin hammered parts of the UK on Monday and came days after Storm Eunice killed three people and left 1.4 million homes without power.

In Ross-on-Wye, the river has burst its banks and spilled out on to the flood plain.

People living near the temporary flood barriers in Bewdley are being advised to leave their homes before they are overtopped, which is expected to happen later on Tuesday.

Of the 23 flood warnings in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, 12 are on the River Severn, including Worcester where extra flood pumps have been installed on Hylton Road which is flooded between McDonald’s and the bridge.

Nick Green, from the Environment Agency, said he was not anticipating that defences at Upton upon Severn “were breached at present but [we’re] keeping a close eye”.

He added: “In Worcester we’re looking at levels that are similar really to 2020 so there were some impacts there in terms of flooding for low-lying roads in Worcester city centre itself.”

Source: BBC News