IT was all hands on deck yesterday at one riverside pub when the landlord turned boatman to keep up trade.

Jim Wainwright was determined to keep the beer pumps, not water pumps, working when the River Severn burst its banks flooding the grounds of The Camp at Grimley - instead of shutting-up shop he ferried customers to and from the bar.

But eventually, Mr Wainwright could turn back the tide no more, and rising floodwaters caused him to close the pub until further notice.

The water, which was between two and three inches late yesterday evening, has "risen steadily" throughout the night.

"You can't even walk in wellies in the pub - it's over wellington deep," said Mr Wainwright, who has run The Camp with wife Lyn for the past 30 years.

"It last happened like this in 1998 - it was a bit deeper than now but we've got a lot to come, so they tell us."

Mr Wainwright, aged 56, has lived at the pub all his life and remembers the floods of 1947.

"In 1947, the worst flood ever, the water was just over the top of the bar. I hope it doesn't get to that this time," he said.

* ON THE ROADS AND RAILWAYS

CENTRAL Trains spokeswoman Jenny Procter said today that services across Worcestershire were ''generally'' back to normal.

But motorists were today being warned to avoid the following county roads, which were closed due to flooding.

* Hylton Road, Diglis Dock Road, Navigation Road and Waterworks Road, in Worcester.

* The A4103 Hereford Road at Bransford, close to The Fox Inn.

* The B4211 Hanley Road, between Upton-upon-Severn and Hanley Castle.

* Eckington Bridge and Jubilee Bridge in Fladbury, near Pershore.

* Bewdley Bridge.

* Main Street, in Cropthorne, near Pershore - but not the main route.

* The A438 at Letton can only be passed by HGV vehicles or off-

road vehicles.

* The B4232 at Kerne Bridge, Herefordshire.

CLUB'S ROCKET VOW

Worcester City Football Club is pledging to put on a cracking firework display this weekend, regardless of the weather.

The event is scheduled for Friday evening at the club's ground in St George's Lane, Barbourne.

"It's definitely going ahead," said Laurie Brown, the vice-chairman.

"The display will begin at 7.45pm, but the gates open at 6pm and there will be plenty of attractions for people to enjoy."

A DJ will be spinning the discs while Punch and Judy shows will be provided for the youngsters.

Advance

The tickets can be bought in advance until 2pm on Thursday from the club.

They are £3 for adults, £1.50 for concessions and £8 for a family ticket.

On the gate the prices are £4, £2 and £10 respectively.

Meanwhile, Worcestershire County Cricket Club has had to scrap its firework display, scheduled for Friday.

Worcester Round Table has also been forced to axe the group's firework display, planned for Saturday.

It would have taken place at Pitchcroft racecourse.

WE WILL GO ON WITH RACE

RUNNERS hoping to pound the streets of Worcester this weekend have been told not to hang up their trainers in despair despite the rapidly rising flood waters.

The council insists its first Road Race, which will raise thousands of pounds for charity, will still go ahead on Sunday.

The event, sponsored by Johnsons of Worcester, has already been postponed once because of September's petrol crisis.

One of the three races scheduled, the 10km run, was to have started at Pitchcroft racecourse - which has been waterlogged since the start of the week's flooding.

"We will have to change the starting point of the 10km race," admitted Rachael Shaw, the city council's community information officer.

"At the moment, the council is looking for an alternative location and will announce this as soon as possible.

"But the road race is definitely going ahead. The other two races won't be affected as they start from the Guildhall in the High Street."

The 10km race is for more experienced athletes, while wheelchair users can take part in a 5km event and fun runners in a 3km route.

Money raised will be channelled into the work of Leukaemia CARE, based in Worcester.

So far, more than 50 people have offered their services, but volunteers are still being asked to step forward.

"As the date gets closer, such community spirit is a real plus," said Amanda Smith, the race organiser.

"Although the 10km run is at capacity, there are still spaces for fun runners of all abilities to join in the 3km event."

For the latest details about the starting point for the 10km race ring Worcester City Council on 01905 722323.