A CLOSE eye is being kept on rising river levels in Worcestershire.

The Environment Agency has predicted that waters will not peak until tomorrow following heavy downpours in Wales, and with more rain expected to fall on the county today.

In Worcester, the river Severn is normally 1.2 metres (3.9ft) high in summer and 1.5m (4.9ft) high in winter. Yesterday, it had reached 2.6m (8.5ft).

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “It is still rising and it looks likely, depending on further rainfall, that it will not peak until Wednesday.

“Barriers have not gone up in Worcester but we will carry on monitoring the river level.”

In Upton, where temporary flood barriers were put up over the weekend, the river level is 2.65m (8.6ft), compared with 1.5m (4.9ft) in winter and 0.56 (1.8ft) in summer.

On Sunday morning, Worcester had 17.6mm of rain, causing the ground to become saturated and rural lanes to flood.

According to Worcester News weather expert Paul Damari it was a lot of rain but not uncommon for early October.

He said: “We often have heavy outbreaks like the one we saw on Sunday at this time of year.

“It has caused the ground to become saturated in some areas and I know some of the brooks are very full but it should now ease off.”

Mr Damari anticipated 2-4mm of rain would fall this morning followed by dry, sunny spells for the rest of the week.

For updated information follow the links below.

The Environment Aency is currently building a permanent flood defence along Hylton Road in Worcester.

The 560m (1,837ft) earth bund will stretch from the last house on the riverside of Hylton Road to opposite Chequers Lane interrupted by a brick wall for access to Sabrina footbridge.

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