MOTORISTS travelling from the north side of Worcester are facing major traffic jams and chaos due to a lack of road signs, it is claimed.

Travellers from the A449 and the A38 north of Worcester say that there are no obvious signs warning of the city bridge closure.

One motorist, who had not been able to keep an eye on the news, said she had driven along the A449 from Stourbridge into the city centre, without realising she could not cross the river.

''Traffic was chaotic''

"I got all the way to The Tything without seeing a sign and by that time I was practically by the bridge," said the frustrated worker.

"I then had to go all the way out on to the southern link bypass to get across the river, and the traffic was chaotic.

"If I'd known sooner I would have crossed the river at Holt."

Engineer David Denning said Worcester City Council had erected 40 signs around the city warning of the closure.

"We've got signs at all major junctions. The first one from the A449 is at the roundabout by the Claines junction," said Mr Denning.

"We're urging motorists to plan their route. We can't operate diversions for all sorts of routes. We just don't know where motorists might be going.

"People going on long journeys must listen to local radio to hear which roads are open and try to plan their route.''

Mystery of a vehicle 'swept into the river'

A SEARCH for a vehicle reported to have been swept into a river was abandoned yesterday.

A member of a shooting party had called the emergency services, after claiming to have picked up a distress call on short-wave radio.

He said a vehicle appeared to have plunged into a river between Mordiford and Holme Lacy, near Hereford.

Firefighters and police combed lanes, fields and banks along the Lugg and the Wye, while a fire crew probed the floodwaters.

But the search was called off during the afternoon after no trace of a vehicle was found.

No fun for the clubbers

YOUNG clubbers from Evesham faced a festive washout last night, thanks to the floods.

Evesham High School's sixth form had booked Worcester's Torch nightclub for a Christmas party.

The event was cancelled as waters gushed across Tybridge Street and New Road was closed.

Staff at the Torch sealed the doors of their club with silicone to keep the building dry.

To rescue of the elderly

ELDERLY people will be helped to reach Christmas party venues thanks to a Worcester car dealership making a vehicle and driver available to Age Concern.

Bromyard Road dealership Arriva has lent the charity a car for a week.

They have also lent a Land Cruiser vehicle to the police.

"We thought we'd give something back to the local community during the floods," said sales manager Phil Bowkett.

Roads closed by floods

Hylton Road, Worcester

Tybridge Street, Worcester (access only)

Navigation Road, Worcester - junction with Diglis Dock Road (Lock end)

Diglis Lane, Worcester

Newport Street, Worcester

Waverley Street, Worcester

City Bridge, Worcester

Hanley Road, Upton

Ryall Road, Upton

A4103 at Bransford

Eckington Bridge

Fladbury Bridge

A38 Severn Stoke (diversion)

A38 Sandford (diversion)

Worcestershire County Council's floodline, 01905 767677, will be manned until 8pm tonight and tomorrow. It has information about travel, road closures and "routine" flooding.

Meanwhile the Environment Agency's floodline is 0845 988 1188.

Blood supply may run dry

BLOOD donor chiefs have urged Worcester donors to make a re-arranged session this Sunday amid fears of depleted stocks.

The National Blood Service has had to cancel a session at the TA Centre at Dancox House because the Army needs the space for flood emergency equipment.

An emergency session has been organised at the Lyppard Grange Centre, Ankerage Green, Warndon Villages, instead.

The service normally collects around 1,100 stocks per day, but is currently around 10 per cent down because of last month's flooding and the latest disaster.

It is being forced to run on three-day reserves, which should normally be five-day in the run-up to Christmas and New Year.

"It's not a serious concern at the moment, but if things go on as they are, we will become increasingly concerned," said National Blood Service spokesman Peter Staples.

"If you are able to make it, we would urge people to go to Lyppard Grange between 9am until 4pm on Sunday.

Information is available on 08457 711 711.