Flood barriers go up in Ironbridge
Flood barriers are being set up in Ironbridge this morning as levels on the River Severn continue to rise.
Telford & Wrekin Council say The Wharfage in Ironbridge will be closed to traffic from Dale End Roundabout to Church Hill roundabout until further notice.
In Shrewsbury flood barriers remain in place, with the Frankwell main and Riverside car parks closed. Motorists are asked to use the Park and Ride service or alternative car parks within the town.
The Environment Agency say levels on the River Severn through Shropshire will continue to rise at least until Christmas Day.
A Flood Alert is in place for the whole of the River Severn in Shropshire, Flood Warnings have been issued for Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Jackfield, Quatford, Hampton Loade and Highley.
Bands of heavy rain have affected the UK since last Wednesday with more than a month's worth of rain falling in some places. The persistent, heavy rain is expected to ease for Christmas Day and into Boxing Day, with a mixture of sunshine and showers in most parts.
Tim Hewson, Met Office Chief Forecaster, said: "Following a very wet and windy few days, we expect brighter skies for many on Christmas Day - although there will be some heavy showers around. We will continue to see spells of heavy rain through the rest of the week and this will fall onto already waterlogged ground in many areas, bringing the continuing risk of localised flooding.
"We will be monitoring the situation and keeping everyone up-to-date with the latest picture through our forecasts and warnings. By thinking ahead the public can be more weather aware and better prepared for severe weather."
John Curtin, Head of Incident Management at the Environment Agency, said: "Flooding is devastating at any time of year, but it is particularly hard at Christmas time, and our thoughts are with those who will be out of their homes over the festive period.
"Although the rain is set to ease a little in the coming days, the ground is still very wet and river levels remain high, so we would ask people to keep up to date with the latest warnings and stay prepared for flooding. We also remind people not to walk or drive through flood water - which can be extremely dangerous."
The unsettled weather looks set to continue throughout this week and into the weekend when strong to gale force southwesterly winds will bring spells of heavy rain across the UK at times.
