Midlands roads blocked by floods after heavy rain
[gallery] Roads were flooded across the Black Country and Staffordshire as torrential rain and high winds breezed in from the Atlantic.
Forecasters say the region could be set for up to 10 days of miserable weather, while the Environment Agency has warned people to prepare for 'significant' levels of flooding.
Large sections of a number of roads were flooded yesterday with some roads blocked after heavy rain started to come down at around 9.45am. Many drivers were forced to take detours as flood water built up to around a foot in depth in places.
A 50m stretch of Upper Zoar Street in Wolverhampton resembled a lake by late afternoon, blocking the road at the junction with Mander Street off Penn Road.
As the rain continued to pour drivers using the Bridgnorth Road also suffered, while scores of motorists were caught up in waist high water attempting to cross the notorious Trescott Ford in Furnace Grange Road near Wolverhampton.
Flood rescue specialists from West Midlands Fire Service were called to assist two drivers who had been forced to abandon their vehicles when they got stuck in the deep water. Fields in the area were also flooded.
The Met Office has warned that many regions would receive double their usual rainfall, with a brief respite due in the Black Country on Sunday.
The flooding comes just days after the National Audit Office warned that spending on flood protection in England was 'insufficient' in light of government cuts to investment.
