FLOODING caused widespread disruption across Worcestershire as river levels continued to rise following heavy rainfall with more rain on the way.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain on Thursday for Worcestershire and the heavy rain continued to cause problems on county roads on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency issued flood warnings for the rivers Severn, Avon and Teme as swollen waters continued to rise on Friday with Hanley Road cut off in Upton and Pitchcroft car park in Worcester forced to close.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said on Friday: "River levels are rising at the Diglis (Worcester) river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall. Consequently, flooding of property, roads and farmland continues.

"We expect flooding to affect properties at Quay Street, South Quay, Diglis Avenue and Hood Street."

The predicted peak was given as between 4.4 metres to 4.6 metres which was expected to occur on Friday.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "Further rainfall is expected over the next 48 hours, and we expect river levels to remain high over the next few days. We are closely monitoring the situation."

Many county roads were closed on Friday including Hanley Road, Upton (the B4211 between Hanley Road Car Park and Brotheridge Green Lane; New Mill Bridge C2228 at Shelsley Beauchamp; Brook Lane, Cropthorne (closed from the Jubilee Bridge Fladbury and C2022 closed from B4084 to Kennel Bank).

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Other roads to close were Mill Bank, Fladbury (Jubilee Bridge Fladbury C2022 closed from Mill Bank To Neigh Lane); Pershore Road, Eckington and Mill Lane, Hanley Castle (New Street closed between the Old Fire Station to The Fruit Farm.

However, some of these roads reopened throughout the day, including New Mill Bridge at Shelsley Beauchamp.

Flood warnings applied to much of the River Severn, including at Court Meadow, Kempsey and Callow End, Hanley Castle, Rectory Road in Upton, Hanley Road in Upton and at South Worcester (Diglis).

Further warnings were placed on the River Teme at Bransford and at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, flood warnings were also in force on the River Avon at Evesham, Strensham and Bredon and Wyre Piddle.