Drivers ignore flooded road signs

The road at Maisemore was under several inches of water

Motorists removed road closure signs on a flooded main route in Gloucestershire and then got stuck in water, highways officials said.

The A417 at Maisemore was left impassable when the River Severn burst its banks on Thursday.

The county's highways service said it had received reports of drivers trying to get through the road block and their vehicles becoming trapped.

Other low-lying roads around Gloucester and Tewkesbury were also flooded.

Roads closures were in place in Lydbrook and Haw Bridge and parts of Deerhurst and Apperley were also under water.

On Wednesday, fire crews had to rescue a motorist who had become trapped in several feet of flood water on the A38 at Lye.

The Environment Agency said water levels were expected to remain high for the next couple of days