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Worcestershire floods: River Severn at 'record' level Worcestershire floods: River Severn at 'record' level
(about 1 hour later)
The River Severn in flood-hit Worcester has reached its highest level of recent years. The River Severn in flood-hit Worcester has reached its highest level in recent years.
The river water in the Barbourne area at 05:00 was 5.67m (18ft 7in), above the 5.64m level reached in July 2007.The river water in the Barbourne area at 05:00 was 5.67m (18ft 7in), above the 5.64m level reached in July 2007.
It is the highest level reached since Environment Agency records began.It is the highest level reached since Environment Agency records began.
The agency said flood defences "in Worcester town are holding with levels now slowly decreasing" and it had no fears about the river coming over the top of flood defences there.The agency said flood defences "in Worcester town are holding with levels now slowly decreasing" and it had no fears about the river coming over the top of flood defences there.
In Herefordshire and Worcestershire hundreds have been without power. In Herefordshire and Worcestershire hundreds of properties have been without power.
Western Power Distribution said at 06:30 GMT 680 customers in Hereford and Ludlow were without power and 60 were affected in Worcester, with the next update due in the afternoon.Western Power Distribution said at 06:30 GMT 680 customers in Hereford and Ludlow were without power and 60 were affected in Worcester, with the next update due in the afternoon.
The city council is on "emergency footing", meaning it will move some of its resources away from day-to-day work and focus on preparing for when the water levels start to fall.The city council is on "emergency footing", meaning it will move some of its resources away from day-to-day work and focus on preparing for when the water levels start to fall.
West Mercia Police said it would consider bringing in the Army to deal with flooding if needed. BBC correspondent Phil Mackie said the Army had arrived in Worcester to provide extra support to flood victims.
'Serious concerns''Serious concerns'
In Worcestershire and Herefordshire 21 flood warnings are in place for the Severn, Avon and Wye.In Worcestershire and Herefordshire 21 flood warnings are in place for the Severn, Avon and Wye.
The Wye is expected to peak in the afternoon.The Wye is expected to peak in the afternoon.
The village of Holme Lacy is still cut off.The village of Holme Lacy is still cut off.
In Worcester some of the major roads in the city centre are shut, along with the Sabrina footbridge and the main bridge.In Worcester some of the major roads in the city centre are shut, along with the Sabrina footbridge and the main bridge.
A rescue boat was sent to the Severn View hotel in the city, but it was thought everyone had already left by foot, BBC News reporter Bethan Bell said.
Road bridges in Upton and Bewdley also remain closed.Road bridges in Upton and Bewdley also remain closed.
The shuttle bus across Worcester's bridge is still running and will operate until 22:00 GMT.The shuttle bus across Worcester's bridge is still running and will operate until 22:00 GMT.
Joan Baker, 69, of Bath Road, said: "I know they've put the shuttle bus on, but I need to know when the usual service is back. It's costing me a fortune in taxis."Joan Baker, 69, of Bath Road, said: "I know they've put the shuttle bus on, but I need to know when the usual service is back. It's costing me a fortune in taxis."
Eleanor Woodward, 31, from St John's, who is getting married in August, said the inconvenience made her decide to change her plans for the day: "[I] should be bridesmaid dress shopping in Worcester."Eleanor Woodward, 31, from St John's, who is getting married in August, said the inconvenience made her decide to change her plans for the day: "[I] should be bridesmaid dress shopping in Worcester."
Peter Richardson, owner of Richardsons newsagent in St John's, said his garden at home on Hylton Road was "well flooded" but he had never been flooded in the house.Peter Richardson, owner of Richardsons newsagent in St John's, said his garden at home on Hylton Road was "well flooded" but he had never been flooded in the house.
He added: "The journey to work was easier than usual because there was no traffic. [I'm] selling more local papers."He added: "The journey to work was easier than usual because there was no traffic. [I'm] selling more local papers."
Marilyn Lloyd, 63, from the Commandary, an area in Worcester city centre, had used the shuttle bus to cross town.Marilyn Lloyd, 63, from the Commandary, an area in Worcester city centre, had used the shuttle bus to cross town.
She said she was already miserable because her partner recently died and the floods made it even worse. She said her partner had recently died and the floods made her grief worse.
"I only buried him yesterday and I felt this morning I really had to see my daughter for a bit of moral support, so I knew I had to cross town somehow." She said: "I only buried him yesterday and I felt this morning I really had to see my daughter for a bit of moral support, so I knew I had to cross town somehow."
Upton-upon-Severn CE Primary School and Hanley Castle High School in Worcester have been closed for the rest of the week.Upton-upon-Severn CE Primary School and Hanley Castle High School in Worcester have been closed for the rest of the week.
Riversides School in Worcester is closed on Thursday. Riversides School in Worcester was shut on Thursday.
The decision over Hanley Castle High School was "due to serious concerns about the safety and viability of journeys to and from school", Worcestershire County Council said.The decision over Hanley Castle High School was "due to serious concerns about the safety and viability of journeys to and from school", Worcestershire County Council said.
A number of roads are closed because of water, landslips and fallen trees.A number of roads are closed because of water, landslips and fallen trees.
A multi-agency meeting to discuss the latest flooding situation has been taking place.
Peterchurch, Madley, Hampton Bishop, Holme Lacy and Hoarwithy are particularly badly affected in Herefordshire, BBC Hereford and Worcester reported earlier.Peterchurch, Madley, Hampton Bishop, Holme Lacy and Hoarwithy are particularly badly affected in Herefordshire, BBC Hereford and Worcester reported earlier.
More than an inch of rain fell on parts of the county on Wednesday.More than an inch of rain fell on parts of the county on Wednesday.
The flood barriers in Upton are coping well, BBC Hereford and Worcester reported, but the water is rising at the bottom of Tunnel Hill - the opposite side of town to the river.The flood barriers in Upton are coping well, BBC Hereford and Worcester reported, but the water is rising at the bottom of Tunnel Hill - the opposite side of town to the river.
Rowan, who lives there and has put in his own flood defences, said they were holding the rising level of water back but only just. One resident called Rowan, who has put in his own flood defences, said they were holding the rising level of water back but only just.
He added: "We had to do quite a few modifications yesterday (Wednesday) because it was starting to come over the top of them. He added: "We had to do quite a few modifications yesterday [Wednesday] because it was starting to come over the top of them.
"So (we had) lots of family and friends round so we managed to extend them up another five or six inches." "So [we had] lots of family and friends round so we managed to extend them up another five or six inches."
BBC News reporter Jerry Chester was on a shuttle bus across the floods in Worcester city centre. BBC News reporter Jerry Chester travelled on a shuttle bus across the floods in Worcester city centre.
He said: "The local commercial radio station was playing a version of Take That's The Flood, with the lyrics changed to be about Worcester. 'Someone's got too much free time on their hands,' said one woman on the bus." He said: "The local commercial radio station was playing a version of Take That's The Flood, with the lyrics changed to be about Worcester.
"'Someone's got too much free time on their hands,' said one woman on the bus."
Maryann Scamp, 56, from the Arboretum area of Worcester, said she was walking the dog at about 07:45 GMT, when someone spotted an otter in a canal in the city.Maryann Scamp, 56, from the Arboretum area of Worcester, said she was walking the dog at about 07:45 GMT, when someone spotted an otter in a canal in the city.
Miss Scamp said: "[The otter] was ducking and diving and looked like he was having a really great time. It was moving quite fast, I was surprised."
Peter Case, water and wetlands officer with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, said it was not rare for otters to use the canals in Worcester, but the fact they have been spotted out in the open suggested the floods were affecting them.Peter Case, water and wetlands officer with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, said it was not rare for otters to use the canals in Worcester, but the fact they have been spotted out in the open suggested the floods were affecting them.