Storms cause chaos across Bromsgrove and Rubery

HEAVY rain and flash-flooding has brought chaos to Bromsgrove and Rubery.

There was widespread disruption as the town and village became among the worst hit in Worcestershire as severe weather conditions, including thunderstorms and hail, hit at around 10am.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service recieved more than 30 calls between 8.30am and 10am concerning areas that had been flooded.

And around 40 members of staff from Worcestershire County Council were deployed to help clear drains and gulleys, and keep a watchful eye on the state of highways throughout Worcestershire.

A warning has been issued to drivers negotiating roads with holding water because it could be deceptively deep. They also urged people to avoid making non-essential journeys and recommended anyone, who had driven through water, to check their brakes were working afterwards.

Waseley Hills High was forced to send their pupils home at 11.30am after the school became flooded.

And trains from Birmingham to Bromsgrove and Redditch were delayed due to flooding on the line around Barnt Green.

Buses were also disrupted, including severe delays to the 144.

Six homes in Withybed Lane, Alvechurch, were affected by the flooding and on the Wast Hills Canal in Hopwood, water cascaded down a hill so fast that it forced a barge into a tunnel wall. That blocked off other waterways users and the fire service were needed to free the vessel.

Bromsgrovians took to The Standard's Facebook page in their droves, providing pictures and updates on different parts of the town that had succumbed to the flooding. Many people reported bumper level water on those roads surrounding the town centre, including Worcester Road, Kidderminster Road, Stourbridge Road, Straford Road and Redditch Road.

Several statuses reported the area surrounding Morrisons in Bromsgrove was particularly bad and numerous people described Rubery High Street as a 'river'.

One resident reported water was up to 2ft deep in places in All Saints Road.

Mandy Castle's post summarised the views of many.

She said: "Just avoid Bromsgrove all together, everywhere is flooded, A38, Stourbridge Road, Kidderminster Road, Catshill. All a complete nightmare."

Buy photos» One of the scenes in Longbridge, taken by Shirley Cartlidge. s

Buy photos» Traffic struggled with the deluge in Bromsgrove. Picture by Anna Davidson Thawe. s

Buy photos» All Saints Road in Bromsgrove was hit by floods. Picture by Jayne Harrison Colledge. s

Buy photos» Water cascaded on the road next to the Rubery flyover. Picture by Vena Camack. s

Buy photos» Longbridge was flooded. Picture by Vena Camack. s

Buy photos» Another one taken near Bromsgrove's Morrisons. Picture by Ste Layton. s

Buy photos» A truck at Bromsgrove's Morrisons. Picture by Ste Layton. s

Buy photos» Louise Short sent in this picture of the road outside the Sanders Park gates. s

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