Midlands Flash Flooding

This barometer located in Upton upon Severn, shows how high the water has risen in two days.

This sudden rise has prompted the Environment Agency to close the flood gates on a flood defence wall, which was officially opened on Friday.

The gates of the waterfront section of the Upton flood defence were closed today for the first time, after the completion of a £4 million project to protect the town from flooding.

The flood defences in Worcestershire were officially opened on Friday by West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin.

According to the council, the newly built wall has already protected the town from the rainfall in recent months, with June being the wettest on record.

The town has flooded 70 times in the last 40 years and has had the reputation of being the most flooded town in Britain.

A number of flood warnings and alerts remain in place after parts of the region were left have left vast parts of the country saturated.

The Environment Agency has 4 flood warnings in the Midlands and 19 flood alerts. The warnings are in place at:

• River Teme at Lower Wick

• River Severn at Severn Ham, Tewkesbury

• River Teme at Bransford

• River Leam at Eathorpe, Huningham and OffchurchRiver Leam at Eathorpe, Huningham and Offchurch

Later today the Environment Agency is expected to close the flood gates at Upton on Severn for the first time.

The flood defences in Worcestershire were officially opened on Friday by West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, marking the completion of the second of two schemes which have cost £4 million to protect the town from flooding.

This picture, taken in Tenbury yesterday at the height of the floods, shows just how much higher than normal the water levels at River Teme rose to.

A443 is closed in both directions at A456.

The road was closed on Saturday morning and will be for most of today. There is still over 4ft of flooding on the road. Affecting traffic in the Newnham Bridge, Eastham and Lindridge area.

A4103 closed due to flooding in both directions between Station Road (Bransford) and A44 / A4440 Grove Way (Rushwick).