DESPITE reports that the River Avon's flood level was falling yesterday (Thursday), the emergency services are on alert this weekend.

Specially dedicated police officers will be checking all known flood areas in and around Evesham regularly in order to give residents as much time as possible to react if necessary.

Evesham's beat manager Tom Iddon said: "Although the situation doesn't look too bad in the town at the moment, we are still keeping vigilant."

Janine Pemperton, of the Environment Agency, said: "Tewkesbury is on severe flood alert, however the river levels at Evesham are falling. That might change though, so we don't want people to become complacent.

"Evesham is still on flood warning which means residents must be prepared to put emergency plans into action at any time.

"Tewkesbury is much worse off - their power supplies for the whole area could be affected."

Police are appealing to the sightseers at Tewkesbury and Worcester, which is also severely affected by floods, to keep away from flooded areas.

They say they may hamper the work of the emergency services. They also want pedestrians and drivers not to plough through water because they do not know how deep it may be.

West Mercia Police press officer Vicki Davies said: "Only use the 999 system in a real emergency.

"Anyone wanting to know the local situation or to obtain weather reports can ring 01905 767677."

Following the nationwide weather situation, the National Blood Service is appealing to all donors to make every effort to attend their local donor session.

Jim Moir, for the service, said: "Historically this is usually a busy time of the year for collecting blood, but with many of our donors coming down with coughs and colds and the additional factor of bad weather, it is making matters much worse."