DRIVERS parked in Worcester's Pitchcroft Car Park faced a soggy journey back to their cars yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon after a sharp rise in the River Severn caused it to flood in parts.

At around 4pm the Severn began to rise quickly causing further flooding to Worcester Racecourse and the Pitchcroft Car Park.

Two flood warnings have been issued for Worcester by the Environment Agency (EA), one for Pitchcroft and the other for Diglis.

It predicts the river will peak at between 4.7 and 4.9 metres on Friday afternoon and could reach a higher level than during the floods in January.

Sally Griffiths, 46, from Stourport, had to be carried to her car in Pitchcroft on Wednesday.

She said: "I parked here first thing, it would have been about 10am. It wasn't like this, maybe one or two puddles.

"It is not very good."

Genine Stanley, 57, who was visiting Worcester from Mansfield and had also parked in Pitchcroft, said: "We have had rain but nothing like this. It is very shocking."

Andy Chinn, car park manager for Worcester City Council, described helping one man to his car stuck in the flood water.

He said: "I took him in my car, we opened my car door and put a bucket onto the water upside-down. He stood on the bucket, opened his car door and climbed in.

"We are monitoring it on the hour, every hour. We have got staff here on site now. We are going to monitor it over night."

A number of roads remain closed due to flooding in Upton, including the B4211 Hanley Road, New Street and Dunns Lane.

Meanwhile the B4080 Eckington Bridge is also closed, along with the B4195 Stourport Road in Bewdley between Beal's Corner and Westbourne Street.

However, several roads previously closed have been reopened including Bransford Court Lane, Bransford, the Jubilee Bridge at Fladbury, Brook Lane, Cropthorne, Porters Mill, Fernhill Heath by Jacob's Ladder and the road and walkway at Waterside, Evesham.

In Bewdley, Beales Corner was closed from 6.30pm yesterday (Wednesday) eveningfor the installation of pumps and flood defences with river levels expected to peak today (Thursday). The town remains open.

At 6pm yesterday (Wednesday) the Worcester Gauge was 4.5 metres and rising slowly, while the Diglis Gauge was 4.07 metres and rising slowly.

A flood alert is also in place for the River Severn in Worcestershire.

For more information, or advice on flooding, call the EA's Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or visit nationalfloodforum.org.uk.

And for all the latest flooding and weather updates visit us online at worcesternews.co.uk.