Worcestershire flood warnings still in place - forecast

The Environment Agency issued flood warnings on Monday night at Kempsey, Callow End,Clifton and Severn Stoke near Worcester, meaning flooding is expected and poses an immediate threat to properties.

An update at 5am this morning on the agency's website confirmed water levels in the Severn had reached 4.75 metres overnight as predicted and were steady.

A peak level of between 4.7 metres and 4.8 metres is expected to occur today.

The levels will still fall below the record-breaking floods of July 2007, during which the Severn peaked at 5.3 metres on the Diglis gauge.

Yesterday, flood water had encroached onto many areas of Worcestershire County Cricket Club’s New Road ground, but it is hoped Monday’s CB40 match with the Netherlands will go ahead.

The current threat follows the wettest April in the UK since records began in 1910.

According to Met Office figures up until Sunday, the UK saw almost double the average rainfall, with 121.8mm of rain when just 69.6mm would be expected and 129.4mm fell across the Midlands.

Worcester News weather expert Paul Damari said his measurement of 106.7mm of rain was the highest April figure since he began making records more than 45 years ago and 73.6mm was logged from Tuesday to Monday, April 24-30.

Last year, only 2.3mm was recorded during the whole month, while more than 200mm came down in just over a day during July 2007.

“From now until Sunday any rain will be light and patchy with some drier spells towards the weekend, allowing the river levels to peak and very slowly start to recede a little.

“The water table is very low and we would need many months like this to catch up with the deficit we have built up over the last two years or so.”

He said there was a chance of a slight frost towards the end of the week as temperatures dip towards zero and was expecting heavy downpours and thunder storms during May and June.

In Kempsey, Church Street residents were on alert after Hatfield Brook rose four inches on Monday night and the ford near Church Street and Squires Walk was closed the same afternoon.

David Harrison, vice chairman of Kempsey Parish Council, said there were about 15 homes at risk of flooding if the levels rose more than another 12 to 18 inches – almost double the predicted rise.

Environment Agency staff have helped residents put up individual flood defences and delivered four tonnes of sandbags.

“We have extra sandbags available at the parish council but it’s the first time the EA have delivered four tonnes,” he said.

“They’ve been wonderful helping people put their defences up.

“Some of the homes are below water level. They have concrete floors and submersible pumps. At present everything is under control.”

Worcestershire county councillor Tom Wells said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the situation in Callow End and Powick after the introduction of new flood alleviation schemes to protect the villages from the Severn and flash flooding.

“Let’s hope they hold firm and no one has to go through the misery they endured in 2007.

“So far things are all right but you don’t know what is coming down stream in the next few days.”

The Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke, near Upton-upon-Severn, was devastated in the July 2007 floods but staff are not overly concerned at the current situation as the river level lay at 6ft below the riverbank.

Nick Jarvis said: “It’s not brilliant but it’s not anything worth worrying about at the moment.

"There’s still quite a bit to go until it is a problem.

“It’s about being aware and having plans in place if it becomes a problem.”

In Upton the town’s new flood defences have been tested for the first time, before workmen have even had the chance to put the finishing touches to them.

The new flood gate at the bottom of New Street, which has been closed for the first time, is holding firm and keeping about two feet of water at bay, while water has also risen about a foot up against the flood wall that is still being finished off along the Waterfront.

Levels on the Severn rose overnight on Monday, reaching 4.71 metres by 3pm yesterday afternoon, flooding Hanley Road, the main route into the town from Malvern.

The road was closed at about 4pm yesterday afternoon, but the Environment Agency says it is not unduly worried and widespread disruption is not predicted for the town. Spokesman Dhiren Katwa said river levels were expected to peak early this morning at about 4.8 metres.

“Even with the rain we have received overnight, the rise in river levels that we expect to see for Upton-on-Severn is not unusual and we should consider this as a normal winter flood,” he added.

Dave Walker, team leader with Upton-based water rescue organisation MISAR (Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue) has been watching the river with interest and believes the town will escape largely unscathed.

He said: “There is water under the bridge, some on the sports fields and a little on Hanley Road but I think it is basically stabilising now and we should be okay.”

The new flood wall also appears to have passed its first test, with gaps where doors are still to be fitted being sealed up and pumps on the “dry” side dealing with any seepage.

Mr Walker said: “The wall appears to be doing its job. Water has come up about a foot against it but I would say there is still a good foot-and-a-half to go at even the lowest point before it reaches the level of the glass panels.”

Organisers of the Upton Folk Festival, which takes place from Friday to Monday, May 4-7, say the event will go ahead as planned.

However they do not expect to be able to use their regular campsite at the sports fields and have put a contingency plan in place.

A flood alert remained in place on the Teme at Bransford, meaning flooding was possible but not expected, and a level of 4.1 metres was falling yesterday.

The river Leadon, which flows through Ledbury, was also on flood alert and a peak of 0.47m recorded at Bromsberrow and 0.51m at Bosbury yesterday - although levels were still rising.