A FLOODED road has been closed in Upton and flood barriers have been put in place further north as river levels continue to rise after heavy rain.

New Street from Clive's Fruit Farm to Upton is closed due to flood water, West Mercia Police confirmed today and river levels on the Severn are rising.

A spokesman for the Upton Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "Please do not attempt to drive through floodwater. There are road closure signs in place."

Flood defences have been put in place further up the river Severn at Bewdley.

Firefighters helped the Environment Agency to deploy the flood barriers.

Dave Throup, Environment Agency manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said today: "Fantastic support from our friends at Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Fire Control and Michael Cadman (responsible for community risk, protection and prevention) helping to deploy our Bewdley flood defences." As of 3.30pm today there were 29 flood warnings in place, some on the river Severn but none so far in Worcestershire.

There is a flood alert in place for Kempsey and along the river Severn in Worcestershire.

River levels have risen at the Bewdley river gauge as a result of persistent heavy rainfall.

Flooding of roads and farmland is expected for the next few days.

Flooding is affecting low lying land and roads adjacent to the river from Highley to Tewkesbury.

Other locations that may be affected include Stourport, Holt Fleet, Worcester, Kempsey, Severn Stoke and Upton upon Severn.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "We expect river levels to remain high until March 21.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff have erected demountable flood barriers at Severnside and Beales Corner in Bewdley.

"Please plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded."