Shropshire roads closed and flood warnings in place as county flooding clean-up continues

The skies may be blue but the after-effects of Wednesday's downpour are still causing trouble for Shropshire residents.

Pennerley, just over 14 miles south west of Shrewsbury, was the wettest place in the country on Wednesday, with the Met Office reporting 64.4mm of rainfall fell within 24 hours.

Several roads were closed overnight and remained so on Thursday morning. 19 flood warnings and alerts had also been put in place.

On Thursday morning, the A49 remained closed in both directions between the B4368 near Craven Arms and the B4371 near Church Stretton but National Highways announced it had reopened just before 1pm.

Teams were also working to clear floodwater from roads around Shrewsbury.

A spokesperson for Shropshire Council said flooding remained around the Battlefield Roundabout in the northeast of town, and the Battlefield link road (A5124) with the Enterprise Roundabout would remain closed all day while teams work on the clean-up.

The A49 and the A53 off Battlefield Roundabout had reopened just before 12pm.

The AA was also reporting flooding on the A5 near Preston Island, which was causing traffic to build up in both directions around the roundabout.

Tidying up was also underway in Gobowen after Station Road had flooded on Wednesday afternoon.

According to police, waves being caused by vehicles attempting to drive through the flood were taking water into some nearby homes.

The main car park at Frankwell in Shrewsbury was also closed on Thursday, in preparation for potentially rising river levels.

Nine flood warnings - where flooding is expected - have been put in place around the county, and preparations for flood defences were being made along the Wharfage in Ironbridge.

Telford & Wrekin Councillor Carolyn Healy said: "Following the recent heavy rain, the Environment Agency have advised that river levels are rising and as a precaution, there is a need to install the gully bungs."

Flooding is expected to impact property, roads and farmland near Rea Brook in Shrewsbury, the River Teme at Eardiston, Leintwardine and Walford, Little Hereford and Ashford Carbonel, Ludlow, Stanford Bridge, Tenbury Wells and Burford, and the River Vyrnwy at Maesbrook and Melverley.

Ten flood alerts - where flooding is possible - are also in place covering Ledwyche Brook and River Rea, Lower Teme, Rea Brook and Cound Brook, River Dee from Whitchurch to Chester, River Lugg North of Leominster, River Sow and River Penk, River Worfe, the Severn Vyrnwy confluence, Tern and Perry catchments and Upper Teme.

Residents are being warned to avoid using low-lying footpaths near local watercourses and avoid contact with floodwater.

West Midlands Railway and Transport for Wales train services running between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury were cancelled due to flooding on the track between Wellington and Shrewsbury.

Rail replacement buses were ordered between the stations and an hourly train shuttle ran between Wolverhampton and Wellington. The line reopened by about 12pm.

Several schools have also announced they would be shut on Thursday, after flooding on roads prevented access to the buildings.