Storm Katie: Warnings as Staffordshire river levels stay high
Heavy rainfall has flooded stretches of a river which flows through Staffordshire.
Flood warnings were this week issued on a large stretch of the River Penk which has swelled in the aftermath of Storm Katie.
The 22-mile river - which is liable to flooding - runs from the village of Perton to the county town of Stafford.
The normal level of the River Penk at Penkridge in average weather conditions is between 0.22m and 0.39m - but this has risen to 1.87 metres over the past few days.
Research by River Levels, which monitors and checks the levels of rivers and flood warnings, reveal its current level had yesterday gone down to around 1.57 metres.
The Environment and Countryside section of the Government website issued a warning statement yesterday.
It warned that flooding is possible and urged those who live nearby to be prepared.
The department said: "The river levels on the River Penk and Sow continue to remain high.
"Levels are falling at Deepmore Farm and Coven but continue to steadily rise at Great Bridgeford and Milford.
"The current level at the Deepmore Farm gauge is 0.69 metres and falling. At the Penkridge gauge the level is 1.57 metres and falling. The level at Milford is 2.20 metres. "Over the past 24 hours there has been 16 millimetres of rain. River levels remain high and flooding of local roads and low lying land may continue to cause disruption so please remain vigilant."
The River Penk has been between the level of 0.22m and 0.39m for at least 237 days in the past year.
It's usual range in more extreme weather conditions is between 0.22m and 0.76 and has been between these levels for 90% of the time since monitoring began.
The river reached previously reached it's most recent high point on June 25 2007 when it hit levels as high as 2.39 meters.
For up to date information on river levels, go to the Environment and Countryside section of the gov.uk website
