http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-44275045


Storms have caused flash flooding across parts of Birmingham as more than a month's rainfall deluged parts of the city in just one hour on Sunday.

The Environment Agency has issued multiple flood warnings and alerts are in place across the West Midlands, and a Met Office amber weather warning is in place for the region.

West Midlands Police is warning people to avoid driving in the city.

Floods left one major route impassable because of water up to 5ft deep.

Image caption
Wheelie bins floated down the road as floods submerged Sir John's Road, Selly Park
The Met Office said a site at Winterbourne, in Edgbaston, recorded 58mm of rainfall in just one hour on Sunday afternoon, and 81mm in a 12-hour period.

The monthly average for the West Midlands region in May is 55mm, meteorologist Craig Snell said.

But he said the torrential rain had been "very localised", pointing out that another site 10 miles away at Coleshill recorded just 3mm of rain in 12 hours.

BBC journalist Rebecca Woods said she had driven past a large number of flooded and closed roads in the Harborne and Selly Oak areas.

She said she had seen flooded houses and it had taken her 90 minutes to drive about five miles.

In Sir John's Road, Selly Park, homes flooded and cars were under water, while wheelie bins floated down the road.

Neighbouring Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) said it had also been "extremely busy" dealing with flooding calls on Sunday evening.

The Environment Agency has more than 20 flood warnings and more than 40 flood alerts in place covering much of Central England