FLOOD warnings of Worcestershire look set to remain in place well into the weekend with water levels set to peak on Sunday.

The Environment Agency is expecting flooding to occur in both Worcester and Upton and is warning immediate action is required to avoid disruption.

At 6pm yesterday, the level at Diglis in Worcester was 3.99 and rising slowly, with a peak level of between 4.4 and 4.8 metres not expected until Sunday.

This means Hood Street, Quay Street, Pitchcroft Lane, Waterworks Road, Newport Street, Croft Road and Diglis Dock Road could all be affected by flooding.

River levels are expected to remain elevated in the coming days due to the forecast of further rainfall.

A flood warning is also in place for Upton, with the gauge at Saxons Lode reading 4.66 metres and steady at 11am yesterday.

The level is expected to peak between five and 5.4 metres on Sunday.

Flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, are in place for the river Severn and river Avon across Worcestershire and the lower Teme at Bransford, near Worcester.

John Curtin, head of incident management at the Environment Agency, said: “We’re preparing for successive bands of heavy rain forecast into the weekend, groundwater and river levels are already high following the wettest January on record for England.

“With further river and coastal flooding expected this week we continue to have teams working around the clock to protect homes and communities and we are mobilising staff from across the Environment Agency to provide support in affected areas. Over 122,600 properties have been protected over the past few days.

“We urge people to stay safe and not to walk or drive through flood water which can be dangerous and to take care near coastal paths and promenades for fear of being swept away.

“In the face of this severe weather and continuing flood risk we would also remind people that they can sign up to receive free flood warnings, check their flood risk and keep up to date with the latest situation on the Environment Agency website and on social media using #floodaware.”