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Thousands without water in town Thousands without water in town
(about 8 hours later)
Up to 4,000 residents have been left without water after a treatment works near Worcester was hit by the flooding. Up to 4,000 residents remain without water after a treatment works near Worcester was hit by the flooding.
Welsh Water is installing tankers of water and bottled water in and around Bromyard, Herefordshire after the Whitbourne works was affected. Welsh Water installed tankers of water and bottled water in and around Bromyard, Herefordshire, after the Whitbourne works was affected.
The Army and fire crews have been delivering food to towns across Worcestershire left virtually cut off. The Army and fire crews delivered food to towns across Worcestershire which have been left virtually cut off.
River levels in Upton-on-Severn and Worcester are not expected to peak until later in the evening. Upton-on-Severn is one of the worst-hit towns, although the fire service said river levels peaked on Sunday evening.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn warned Worcester and Upton residents that the emergency was "not yet over". 'Flood rubberneckers'
During a visit to Worcester Mr Benn said residents should brace themselves for more flooding as further rain is predicted to hit the region tonight. A spokeswoman from Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade said crews had rescued everyone who wanted to leave homes and premises in Upton, and in nearby Evesham.
He said: "There will be further flooding downstream. It is really important that people listen out for warnings." She said: "The water has now peaked and it is beginning to recede.
At least 150 people in Evesham and about 90 rural Worcestershire residents are without power. Fire crews take away guests from Evesham's Northwick Hotel "Crews are standing by just in case anything major happens.
Fire crews take away guests from Evesham's Northwick Hotel "Those who wanted to be rescued have been, and those who wanted to stay have been made comfortable and provided with bedding and food."
Water levels are falling in Evesham, the scene of some dramatic rescues on Saturday, but people are still cut off. Meanwhile, police in Worcestershire have said that opportunist thieves have been breaking into cars left abandoned in the south of the county because of flooding.
Alec Mackie, from Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, said: "We are keeping an eye on Upton-on-Severn, which is an island at the moment, and watching the flooding at Worcester." A spokesman urged motorists to collect their vehicles as soon as possible.
In Upton-on-Severn, a motorcycle dealer said his shop was 5ft (1.5m) underwater. The spokesman added that "flood rubberneckers" were also becoming a major problem.
He said: "We went under water yesterday afternoon. He said many people have been ignoring flood warning signs and pulling up on the roadside to take photographs.
"I managed to get all my motorcycles out of the shop but my stock and stuff stayed in underneath.
"it's very, very deep, it's probably about three foot deeper than it was in the 2000 floods.
People rescued from flooded houses in Worcester: Pic by Dave HodgsonPeople rescued from flooded houses in Worcester: Pic by Dave Hodgson
"Its a devastating scene all around, really, and [there are] a lot of worried people in the middle of the town [with] no supplies." Elsewhere, up to 40 elderly residents were evacuated from a care home near Hereford on Sunday night, the fire service said.
Boats were used to rescue people from their homes in Ripple and Uckinghall, between Upton and Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. They were taken from the flooded residential home in Fownhope Road, Hampton Bishop, to a nearby school for shelter.
New Road Bridge in Worcester, the main route across the River Severn which has burst its banks, is closed for safety reasons. Many other Hampton Bishop residents had to leave their homes on Sunday night after the River Lugg burst its banks.
West Mercia Police said flooding was also causing a huge problem in the village of Kempsey, virtually cut off after the A38 closed to flooding. Earlier on Sunday, boats were used to rescue people from their homes in Ripple and Uckinghall, between Upton and Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.
Meanwhile, the railway line between Birmingham and Worcester has reopened and Central Trains says its service between Hereford and Shrewsbury is resuming on Sunday evening. New Road Bridge in Worcester, the main route across the River Severn which has burst its banks, had to be closed for safety reasons.
Rail services disrupted
First Great Western services from Oxford to Worcester and Hereford are still suspended. Train services look set to continue to be disrupted by the damage in the coming days.
Severe flood warnings are in force on the River Avon in Evesham and on the Severn at Worcester, Upton-on-Severn and Kempsey.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which was called into Worcestershire on Saturday to help with rescue attempts, has now left to help with the situation in nearby Gloucestershire.
Andy Clift, the RNLI rapid response unit team leader, said: "The team's rescue efforts in Worcestershire saw them rescue around 55 people plus various pets, from budgies to dogs.
"I've never known anything like this."