SANDBAGS were appearing outside homes and businesses today as river levels continued to rise across Worcestershire and residents prepared to brave the waters.

River levels were creeping nearer to the £168,000 temporary flood defences put up yesterday and some shops and restaurants around the River Severn were preparing for the worst.

The Severn normally floods at 14ft 9in (4.25m) and, with hefty showers predicted for Wales today and tomorrow, levels are set to rise to between 13ft 5in (4.1m) and 15ft 1in (4.6m). The normal winter height is just 2ft 11in (0.9m).

The cost of putting up the flood barriers on Hylton Road, St John's, to protect homes from the rising waters, is £13,000. This is the second time they have been put up in the city, the first was February 2004.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency, which owns the defences, said: "We didn't take the decision to put the barriers up lightly. We monitor the river 24 hours a day."

About 40 miles of the Severn in Worcestershire remains on the second highest alert for flooding - Flood Warning.

This is when flooding is expected and homes and businesses should start taking action.

Residents affected by flooding are asked to call the Environment Agency's Floodline on 0845 9881188.