HEAVY rainfall made March 2018 the wettest in Worcestershire since 1947, according to a county weather expert.

Frank Hill recorded 128mm of rainfall at his home weather station in Malvern Link, a figure that is more than twice the average for the month.

“In 1947 there was 158mm, which was really exceptional, and coming on top of the melting of a major snowfall, it caused extensive flooding,” he said.

Mr Hill said that in other respects, March had proved disappointing, with temperatures two degrees below average, colder than it has been since March 2013.

And it has also been the dullest March for 20 years, with 108 hours of rain and only 69 hours of sunshine.

Mr Hill said: “Normally in March, it’s 100 hours of sun and 30 of rain, so that is quite a reversal.”

The heavy rain has meant that low-lying land and roads close to water courses have been at risk of flooding for several days this week.

The Environment Agency issued a flood alert for the Severn warning that the flooding is expected to continue until today (Friday).

The river level was expected to peak last night, reaching levels of between 5.9 and 6.1 metres at Kempsey and between 4.6 and 4.8 metres at Saxon’s Lode, further down the river..

The floodgates in Upton’s New Street were closed and the pumping station at Kempsey activated. Pumps were also in action at Powick to get rid of excess water at the village’s flood defences.

The River Teme at Bransford peaked at just over 4.4 metres early on Tuesday morning.