Vehicles were stranded on the Merton Meadow car park, Hereford

In some parts up to an inch of rain fell in an hour in the morning.

Half a dozen flood warnings have been put in place in the area. Many roads across the region have been flooded.

Many trains from Birmingham New Street have been cancelled due to the weather, including services to Coventry, Worcester and Staffordshire.

Routes to London, Cardiff, parts of the West Midlands, Brighton, Bristol, and Northampton are also among those affected.

Widespread flooding

A number of roads in south Warwickshire were impassable for motorists due to widespread flooding, police said.

Cars had to be rescued by tractors on the A422 at Pillerton Priors and the A46 southbound was congested because of water on the carriageway.

Emergency services said many roads across the area had also become slippery due to mud sliding off the fields and on to roads.

You cannot judge how deep the water will get and what hidden hazards may be under the water Sgt John Roberts

Firefighters helped to rescue children at the Cherry Orchard Primary School in Bath Road, Worcester, after up to half a foot of water was reported there.

About 200 vehicles have been stranded in Hereford's Merton Meadow car park.

Flood warnings were issued on the River Stour in Kinver and Shipston-on-Stour to Clifford Chambers.

Warnings have also been put in place in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

They were issued on the Avon from Evesham to upstream of Tewkesbury, from the Isbourne from Sedgeberrow to Hinton-on-the-Green, on the Teme at Leintwardine and from Bransford Bridge to Powick.

In Shropshire the temporary road surface at Hampton Loade in the Bridgnorth area collapsed and is due to be repaired on Saturday.

'Float car'

The A442 at Quatt was also closed on Friday afternoon along with the B4368 from Clun to Craven Arms in South Shropshire and the road between Atcham and Cross Houses in the Shrewsbury area.

In Birmingham officials at the Bull Ring shopping centre put sandbags near some of its outside doors.

West Mercia Police urged motorists to reduce their speed, drive with more caution and keep well back from vehicles in front.

The force said torrential rain in the next few days will almost certainly cause roads to flood and people should not try to cross them.

Sgt John Roberts, West Mercia police's casualty reduction manager, said: "You cannot judge how deep the water will get and what hidden hazards may be under the water.