Shrewsbury flooding: 'Highest ever' peak could be recorded
Parts of a town centre are under water amid warnings that flooding in the area could reach its "highest ever" level.
Severe flood warnings are in place in Shrewsbury and Ironbridge, meaning there is a danger to life.
Shropshire Council closed many routes into and around Shrewsbury, and said flooding could seal off the centre.
The owner of B&B Darwin's Townhouse said 11 rooms had flooded, less than a week after floodwater "took everything in its wake".
Ann DiTella, who runs the town centre B&B, said staff were trying to save furniture, bedding and linen as water had flooded the "entire cellars of the building".
She predicted it would cost the business about £30,000.
The Environment Agency (EA) said 40-50mm of rainfall in the Welsh mountains was expected to cause problems further down the River Severn.
There are currently dozens of flood warnings and alerts in England after heavy rainfall.
Defences went up in Frankwell and Coleham Head in Shrewsbury overnight.
The EA has also issued a severe flood warning for the Wharfage, Ironbridge, and warned properties would be affected by flooding due to temporary defences "overtopping" following persistent heavy rainfall.
Water levels at the Buildwas river gauge are expected to peak at 6.7m (22ft) to 7m (23ft) on Tuesday evening.
Telford & Wrekin Council workers spent the night distributing sand bags in the Ironbridge area. Homes at risk in Jackfield were the first to receive help.
Debbie Bradbury-Walker, who lives near the English Bridge, said water had filled the 8ft cellar and there were three to four inches on the ground floor.
"It's the first time it's flooded like this and entered the house in the five years we've lived here," she said.
"The drains are full but luckily we still have electricity at the moment.
"We have a way to escape from the house if we need. The rear is built up."
The EA said further rainfall was forecast over the next 48 hours and flooding of properties in Shrewsbury was due to continue.
A "prolonged peak" is expected at Welshbridge of 5.2m (17ft) to 5.5m (18ft) on Tuesday, which would be its highest recorded water level.
Shropshire Council said businesses were open in Shrewsbury, but people could only reach the centre on foot.
Clive Wright, from the council, said staff were out overnight warning residents at risk of flooding.
"The river levels are set to rise during the day so we do expect that at some point today we may get more flooding and if the barriers breach at Coleham again, as they did last week, then that will close off the town and the English Bridge," he said.
In the last week of October 2000, the Severn rose to its highest level for over 50 years, flooding Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth.
Erica Jones, who runs Coleham Sandwich Bar & Deli in Shrewsbury, said they were "staying open as long as we can", after being "very lucky" last week.
She said: "It got to about six inches from our door."
Carol Calcutt, who lives close to the river, said: "I'm very worried. Looking out of my window now the water really is coming up in kind of small waves. It is moving very quickly again."
Shrewsbury Colleges Group said its English Bridge and Welsh Bridge campuses were closed on Monday, but its London Road campus would be open as usual.
Shrewsbury High School said its senior school would also be closed, although the prep school would be open without a school minibus service.
Coleham Primary School said it was planning to be open as normal. But Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge Church of England primary school was shut.
Last week homes and businesses were affected by floods in the wake of downpours brought by Storm Dennis.
The Rivers Wye and Severn reached their highest-ever levels.
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