Flooding alerts as heavy rain hits roads and forces bowling alley to shut

The heavy downpours submerged streets in the Black Country and Staffordshire, with the region now braced for further bad weather.

Terrified families were forced to flee Dudley's Tenpin Bowling as storm water flooded the Castlegate Park centre and caused the roof to collapse on Tuesday.

Footage captured at the venue showed rain streaming through the roof and bringing ceiling tiles dramatically to the floor.

Tenpin declined to comment on the situation when contacted by the Express & Star aside from to say they are hoping to have the site back up and running on Saturday.

A statement on the company's website said it was closed "due to technical difficulties" and that the team "are working hard to fix this ASAP".

WATCH: Part of roof collapses at bowling alley

Footage courtesy of Rhys Palmer

Mother-of-four Emily Palmer, who was one of the families removed from the 22-lane bowling alley just after 2.30pm, said people panicked in their rush to get out of the building.

She said: "Someone shouted 'The ceiling's coming down' and everyone started running.

"No one knew what parts of the roof were coming in. I'd got five little ones with me, aged between two and eight, and I was shouting at them to stay by me. It was scary."

The bowling alley was expected to remain shut until later in the week while the damage is repaired.

Travel disruption

The intense downpours caused localised flooding on roads and railway lines across the Black Country and Staffordshire.

Drivers had to avoid regular flooding spot Trescott Ford, near Wolverhampton, after water spread to the road on Tuesday evening.

Officers from South Staffordshire Police warned drivers to find alternative routes to save their vehicles from getting stuck in the 3ft deep water.

South Staffordshire Police tweeted: "Trescott ford is closed. Please don't become a statistic. It is a torrent and 3ft deep, find an alternative route."

Drivers also had to carefully navigate across Wolverhampton's Birmingham New Road as the street became swamped with water on Tuesday night.

Buses drivers were unable to pull into their usual stop near the road's junction with Laburnum Road in Lanesfield as water covered the road in front of a bus shelter and spilled onto the pavement.

Two lanes of the M5 were shut for about two hours due to severe flooding near Rowley Regis.

Highways England warned of long southbound delays between junction 2 for West Bromwich and junction 3 for Quinton between 5pm and 7pm.

Burntwood's Ironstone Road Cheslyn Hay's Wolverhampton Road were also heavily flooded, with reports of flooding also at Sainsbury's Petrol Station in Blackheath.

Trains were also forced to run at reduced speeds in the Lye area, while National Rail said trains between Kidderminster and Birmingham Snow Hill were cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes.

Flood alerts

There are currently nine flood warnings across the UK, advising of immediate action, along with 33 flood alerts calling for the public to "be prepared".

A flood warning was issued for Stourbridge's River Stour on Tuesday after the torrential rain caused water levels to rise - but the warning was no longer in force by 10am on Wednesday.

Alerts remain in place for River Sow and River Penk, with the Environment Agency warning flooding is possible.

Staff are currently monitoring the rising water levels and advising residents to avoid low-lying footpaths nearby.

It warned: "River levels are forecast to rise at the Penkridge river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall.

"Consequently, flooding may occur this evening and overnight, but there is low confidence given the unpredictable nature of storms.

"Flooding may affect low-lying land and roads adjacent to the River Sow between Great Bridgeford and Shugborough, the River Penk between Coven and Stafford, the Sandyford Brook, the Rising Brook, the Ridings Brook and the Saredon Brook.

"More rainfall is forecast over the next 24 hours which may cause river levels to rise further."

Flooding is also possible at Rugeley Trent as water levels are forecast to rise at the Great Haywood river gauge.

The agency added: "Flooding is affecting low-lying land and roads adjacent to the River Trent between Great Haywood to Yoxall including Rugeley. More rainfall is forecast over the next 24 hours which may cause river levels to rise further."

Latest weather forecast

Forecasters at the Met Office have now lifted all weather warnings for the region, but have said there will be showers throughout the day.

It will be mostly dry on Wednesday evening, with winds easing, but the risk of hill fog.

Looking at Thursday's forecast, The Met Office said: "Early cloud will soon break up to give some bright or sunny spells.

"It should stay largely dry with sunny spells during the afternoon. Feeling warmer with light winds."

Sunny spells and scattered showers will be seen across the region on Friday, along with early morning fog patches.