A FLOOD alert has been issued for the River Severn in Worcestershire.

The alerts come after the fire service were called to sinking boats earlier today.

Worcester and Kempsey have been put on alert by the Environment Agency after the river levels have continued to rise in recent days, due to the heavy rain.

The latest recorded level for the River Severn in Diglis, is 3.08m, which is above the 2.80m line when minor flooding becomes possible.

The River Severn level at Barbourne is 3.57m, above the warning level of 3.34m in that area. At Kempsey Yacht Club the level is 5.38m, with an alert issued there.

Alerts have also been issued for the River Avon in Worcestershire, with the agency saying they were "closely monitoring the situation".

This morning, the popular Cathedral ferry was inches from sinking.

Mark Glossop, who owns the ferry that has raised £16,000 for charity, said: "This morning the river levels rose by more than 1.5metres.

"The boat was pulled down by its moorings and water came in over the side. Fortunately the buoyancy build into the boat kept it afloat.

"The ferry's engine was inches from going underwater.

"The Fire and Rescue Service came and were able to release the moorings, allowing the boat to be floated to the slipway where the water was cleared out.

"The boat was then moved and moored alongside a floating barge.

"We are very grateful for what they did– it has saved the ferry."

The boat crosses between the Worcester Cathedral riverbank, and operated daily for centuries until the late 1950s.

Firefighters were also called to a sinking boat at Diglis Weir this morning, managing to bring the boat to shore securing it using water equipment. No one was on the boat.

READ MORE: Sinking boat rescued by fire crews at Diglis Weir

This afternoon Walcott Ford in Drakes Broughton and Shell Ford in Droitwich have both been closed due to flooding, while New Street in Upton-upon-Severn is about to be closed due to floods.

Dave Throup, Environment Agency manager, tweeted that 20 to 30mm had fallen in the region overnight into this morning, but the worse had missed the River Severn. Nationally the Environment Agency has issued more than 20 flood warnings and nearly 70 alerts, with homes and businesses evacuated in some places.

Although it is currently dry, further rain is forecast in the next 24 hours by the Met Office. There is expected to be drizzle this evening, with light rain from 3am which will last all Friday morning.

Rain is also forecast Saturday and Sunday afternoon.