THE west side of Worcester was within inches of being cut off today as rising floodwater threatened to submerge city centre roads.

As the River Severn continued to swell, emergency services said Worcester's New Road could soon be under water.

If the city's bridge is cut off the nearest road crossing is more than two miles away on the southern bypass. The Sabrina footbridge is already impassable.

Worcester City Council's senior engineer, David Denning, said there was a "possibility" that New Road would be closed.

"We've contingency plans ready but we won't do that until it's absolutely necessary.

"The water will have to rise a fair bit until we have to make that decision, which we may well do over the next couple of days."

The Severn had risen by almost five yards at Diglis and was continuing to rise today.

The Environment Agency said it was continuing to monitor the situation.

"The water is not coming down from Shrewsbury as fast as we thought," said a spokeswoman.

"The flooding at Worcester will reach its peak either tomorrow or Friday."

Hylton Road was closed to traffic and water was covering Tybridge Street - threatening the one-way system. There was also a risk of flooding at Powick Bridge on the A449 Worcester-Malvern road, which would block the main route between St John's and the new bridge.

Midland Red West were continuing to run at least 90 per cent of bus operations.

"We've got a few problems," said spokesman Austin Birks. "Most of our buses are able to get through, but what problems we have are due to congestion."

Residents in St John's were being told not to panic.

"Deliveries are getting through to St John's," said Dennis Ogle, chairman of the St John's Traders and Residents Association. "We're lucky because we're up on the hill. We're capable of surviving for some time because there's not a lot you can't get here."

Several car parks on the city side of the river have already been shut, Pitchcroft and Cattle Market remain closed, Newport Street was under threat and drivers were being urged to remove their cars from the flooded Croft Road car park.