FIREFIGHTERS spent the night carrying out dramatic rescues as homes across Worcestershire were swamped by rising floodwater.

And more rain today is expected to swell the already fast-flowing River Severn, on major flood alert after last night's deluge.

Alec Mackie, spokesman for Hereford & Worcester Fire Brigade, said the floods were the worst he had seen since the 1940s.

In the wake of yesterday's Bewdley rescues, two crews from Worcester and Stourport were called to a house in Abberley after a horse plunged into an overflowing swimming pool and got stuck.

Ten firefighters spent two hours draining the pool before building steps from hay bales so the animal could clamber out.

Another crew waded into Lickhill Rest Home in Stourport-on-Severn to rescue an elderly patient trapped by the floods.

Twenty more residents face evacuation today.

"The property is completely flooded," he said.

"Sub Officer Peter Benkwitz, together with someone from the ambulance service, found themselves having to wade into the property and fortunately were able to lift him to safety.

"More may have to be rescued today."

The picture was as desperate across the rest of Worcestershire as riverside caravan sites and pubs were cut off.

Police were today warning people not to travel after two main routes into Upton-upon-Severn - the Hanley Road and the route up to the A38 - were closed by river levels more than five metres above normal.

Subsidence had also closed a stretch of the A38 from Baynhall, near Kempsey, to Sandford.

Worcester police also issued fresh calls for sightseers to keep away.

"They may hamper the work of the emergency services," said a spokesman.

"Pedestrians and drivers are urged not to walk or drive through the water as it is not known how deep the flooded area is or what dangers lie beneath.

"Please, only use the 999 system in an emergency. Call the local flood line."

Schools closed - more to follow

SCHOOLS across Worcestershire have born the brunt of the floods and have been forced to close their doors.

More than 10 schools across the county are shut due to transport problems, for both teachers and pupils.

The schools that have closed in Worcester are: Rose Hill Day School, Warndon; Thornton House Special School, Wyld's Lane; Manor Park Day Special School, St John's; Riversides School, Barbourne; Our Lady Queen of Peace RC Primary School, St John's and Sunnyside School, Barbourne.

Elsewhere Wribbenhall First and Middle Schools, Bewdley; Bewdley High School; Powick CE Primary School; The Cliffey House School, Hanley Castle, including the post-16 group due to meet at Worcester College of Technology; Redgrove Special School in Redditch and Bromsgrove and Upton-upon-Severn Primary School are also closed.

"The main problem we have is transport to the schools, Worcestershire is a rural area and we rely heavily on a good bus infrastructure," said Julien Kramer, director of education.

"We could be looking at a large number of schools being closed tomorrow.

"Our advice is to keep the radio on. If parents have any doubts they can call here, but please be patient with us."

6 The A38 at Severn Stoke is closed due to a damaged culvert. Repairs may take several days to complete. Local diversions have been set up through minor roads.

Stagger journeys

Worcestershire County Council bosses are advising staff to work from home where possible.

Other workers - not just at County Hall, but at offices around the county - have been asked to stagger their leaving times, to avoid bottlenecks.

"As the county's largest single employer, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our staff, and we feel it is necessary to take this action in order to avoid causing greater problems for those people working on the front line," said Helen Froud, the council's director of corporate services.

Worcestershire County Council has set up a Floods Helpline for the public to ring, on 01905 767677.

Key personnel will remain at their posts to ensure departments are manned, the authority has said.

Floods hit rail service

TRAINS across Worcestershire were being delayed today after rising flood water damaged electricity supplies to signals.

Ged Burgess, spokesman for Central Trains, said although all services through Worcestershire were running, some passengers should expect delays due to the damaged supplies.

"Delays are running on some of our trains but not all of them," he said.

"The 9.23 Great Malvern to Birmingham New Street couldn't run between Malvern and Worcester and the 06.15 Grantham to Hereford had to be terminated at Ledbury.

"We are aiming to continue and rectify the affected services and hope to have rectified the problems by this afternoon subject to weather conditions."

TA enlisted in crisis

TERRITORIAL Army troops from Worcester are on standby across the county to help evacuate flood-ridden families.

At Droitwich and Malvern there are vehicles ready to attend scenes of flooding at Holt Heath and Upton-upon-Severn.

So far there are 20 vehicles, able to drive through 3ft of water, ready to be deployed, with a further 20 available.

"We've a contingency plan to act as and when necessary," said Captain Dave Morgan, of the Royal Artillery 214 Battery - based in Silver Street.

"We can help support the fire service with our vehicles to evacuate people if we are requested."

At the moment there are 20 TA soldiers of the 214 Battery on standby, with the Welsh Fusiliers, from Turner Hill, Shrewsbury, on standby to join them if requested.

Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters Regiment soldiers from Kidderminster are also on standby.

"We're always ready with contingency plans, we've been working with the police and the Environment Agency," said Capt Morgan.

"The TA have been used once so far during the floods and that was to help rescue an elderly lady in Upton from her home.

"People may see us out on the streets but at the moment that's only to test out the depth of the water to see if we can still get through."