Drier spell brings relief from flooding

Buy photos » Flood debris has started to gather under the arches of the Worcester bridge. Picture by Marcus Mingins 0113003MMR4.

FLOODWATERS look set to recede in Worcester over the coming days with drier weather finally bringing some respite to flood-hit areas of the city.

The River Severn is due to peak at about 5.1 metres this afternoon (Thursday), with no significant rainfall expected until at least next week.

Large parts of the riverside remain underwater including Worcester Racecourse, the South Quay and Worcestershire County Cricket Ground, but there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

A Met Office spokesman said temperatures were set to climb into low double figures over the coming days with the occasional bright spell and the weather remaining generally dry.

“We have got a very weak band of rain approaching from the west during Saturday. The cloud will be thick enough in the early hours of Sunday morning to give one or two spots of rain but not much more than that,” he added.

“The first sign of any persistent rain will be late Monday morning but even then it looks like it will be very light rain.”

Earlier this week temporary barriers were put across a flooded riverside footpath and a gap in the railings next to the river opposite the main entrance to Cripplegate Park after Dines Green resident Andrew Brown raised safety concerns.

Mr Brown said he had feared a child or a reveller returning from their New Year celebrations may have fallen into the water and questioned whether a more secure barrier was needed in future.

“I rang up the council’s emergency number on New Year’s Eve and within two hours they had put a barrier up,” he said.

“But I went back later and the barrier was already on the floor. They are too easy for people to push over and throw into the river.”

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