Trees crash down and flooding hits as storms batter West Midlands

There was flooding in Bridgnorth after the Severn burst its banks, with cars submerged as the river spilled onto the streets.

Flood waters covered the town's Severn Park with the park's play area and rugby pitch were left under water.

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Bewdley Bridge was closed to traffic and extra flood defences installed as the Severn remained high.

Environment Agency workers installed the defences at Beales Corner and they also worked alongside fire crews to pump overspill back into the river from Stourport Road.

Bewdley Bridge was closed on Saturday and Wyre Forest District Council said it was expected to remain closed for a few days. It is likely to reopen once the Beales Corner defences are down.

Meanwhile in Worcester, the River Severn is said to be at its highest level since July 2007. The Environment Agency shut the Hylton Road flood gates as the levels continued to rise.

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There have also been some road closures in the city centre. Jon Fraser, head of highways at Worcestershire County Council, said: "River levels are already high and we have more rain forecast. We have had to close some roads and put diversions in place and even where roads are passable I would urge drivers to take care and temper their driving according to the conditions."

Dafydd Evans, area manager for the Environment Agency said: "We anticipate that river levels will remain elevated and we would urge residents to remain vigilant to their flood risk.

River levels will be higher than those experienced earlier in the year so further properties could be at risk of flooding."

In Walsall, gales brought trees crashing down including one in Union Street.

It narrowly missed a car and neighbours said they saw the tree shaking before it became uprooted and fell just before 4.15pm on Saturday.

A resident who did not want to be named said: "The winds were really bad so I am not surprised this happened. The roots of the tree were moving and one of the neighbours went and knocked on the car owner's door.

"He moved his car and seconds later the tree came down. His car would have been written off if it had fallen on top of it. It could have hit him while he was inside the car, he had a lucky escape."

In Wolverhampton, a large tree fell down near Wightwick Hall School in Tinacre Hill, Wightwick.

A plane arriving at Birmingham Airport was forced to abort its landing due to the wind. The flight from Zurich did eventually land safely.

Two women were taken to hospital after a tree fell onto a car during strong winds in Yardley.

More rain is forecast to fall and Environment Agency officers are continuing to monitor the Severn. Flood barriers are in place along Severn Side North and South and at Beales Corner.

There are more than 230 low-level flood alerts and more than 150 medium-risk warnings in place across Wales and central and southern England.

The Met Office warned that river levels are expected to continue rising along the Thames, the Severn and the Dorset Stour this week.

A further 20,000 sandbags are ready to be deployed to communities at risk of flooding on the Somerset Levels. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "As the Prime Minister has said, all available resources are being brought to bear to help those still struggling as a result of the floods."