PEOPLE across the county are being urged to continue driving with care as significant flooding is still affecting the county’s roads.

The Environment Agency is predicting river levels to swell overnight with the River Severn being of particular concern.

The A417 at Maisemore has already flooded, is closed and will not be open in the morning so drivers will need to find an alternative route for travelling.

The River Severn at Tewkesbury is expected to peak at 4.8metres – a metre less than the 2007 peak - overnight or early tomorrow morning.

There has already been some localised flooding in the centre of Tewkesbury as river levels rise.

Gloucestershire Highways and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service are working with the Environment Agency in both these areas to monitor the situation and are ready to take action if needed.

On main roads there is still a lot of standing water on routes all around the county and there are a number of road closures still in place.

Many minor rural routes in low lying areas and those close to swollen water courses may also be closed or passable only with extreme care.

Gloucestershire Highways teams remain off normal duties as all gangs are responding to flood related incidents around the county.

Jason Humm, area highway manager, said: “We’ve been busy all weekend responding to requests for assistance from members of the public and the emergency services.

“The key issue now is the potential flooding the rising levels of the River Severn could cause, particularly in Maisemore and Tewkesbury.

“I’d advise motorists to check travel alerts before setting off and to plan extra time for their journeys as rush hours tonight and tomorrow morning are likely to be difficult.”

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service has also had a busy weekend with more than 190 flood-related call-outs since Friday.

Crews remain in attendance in Lydbrook where significant flooding has affected the centre of the village where twelve homes, a garage and a pub have flooded.

The fire service and the highways teams are stepping in to help the Forest of Dean District Council by unblocking one of their nearby culverts which is clogged with debris.

This will help alleviate the flooding situation as the roads are still under several feet of water.

Jon Hall, chief fire officer, said: “We’ve been able to get support in from neighbouring fire services – West Midlands, Hampshire and Staffordshire – and that’s allowed us to respond to the near 200 calls we’ve had this weekend.

“Our teams have been out talking to residents in affected areas, informing them of any potential issues and offering assistance wherever it’s needed.

“We’ll be working closely with our partners in highways and the environment agency tonight as we respond to any incidents the rising river levels cause.”

Flooding has also affected three of the county’s school which are closed today. Clearwell School in the Forest of Dean, Peak Academy and Powell’s C of E School in Cirencester are shut.

For updates, check www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/closedschools.

Follow @GlosHighways, @GlosCC @GlosFire on Twitter for updates.

Gloucestershire County Council is currently aware of the following road closures:

o A417, Maisemore – road closed o B4234 Lydbrook – road closed

o Drybrook Cuttings, landslip – road closed

o B4080 Bredon Road – road closed

o B4213, Hawbridge – road closed

o Barton Street, Tewkesbury – closed.

o A48 and A4136 at Brierly – passable with care

o Downton Road, Leonard Stanley – road closed

o Old Birdlip Hill, Witcombe – road closed

o Old London Road in Wotton under Edge, landslip – road closed

o B4063, Cheltenham Road East – passable with care

o A46, Shurdington – passable with care

o B4035 Chipping Camden – road closed

o Dollar Street, Cirencester – road closed

o Spittlegate Lane, Cirencester – road closed

o Cirencester inbound at Preston Toll on approach from Cricklade – road closed

o Daglingworth - road closed

o A417 at Lechlade, passable with care