HEAVY rain brought flash flood chaos to Stourbridge yesterday (Monday) - submerging a subway and the town's Crystal Leisure Centre temporarily.

The subway, which runs under the ring road from Worcester Street to Market Street, was left underwater and the leisure centre was flooded when the town was hit by an "extraordinary amount of rainfall in a short period of time".

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, Dudley's cabinet member for transportation, said the subway flooded "due to limited capacity in the public sewer following an intense storm" but following the morning downpour it "quickly drained down".

He continued today: "Council officers are now inspecting the condition of the subway in case we need to take any remedial action.

"People’s safety is our primary concern. During or after heavy rainstorms we strongly advise people to use road crossings instead of subways."

Councillor Rachel Harris, Dudley's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said the torrential rain was also to blame for a flood which affected three areas at the Crystal Leisure Centre in Bell Street.

But she added: "The changing rooms re-opened at 4pm yesterday. The gym will re-open later today and the Diamond Room will open later this week.”

Meanwhile residents living near the new CALA Homes development in Hagley were also hit by flash floods yesterday when water started gushing off the development site towards homes.

Alban Jones, of Kidderminster Road, said: "The water poured out from the site as there's nothing on there to hold it back. It's been like a river."

Darren Wright, construction and customer service director for CALA Homes Midlands, said the company has been carrying out work to prevent water running off the site - which is expected to be completed this week.

He added: "We are also working on off-site solutions by cleaning out the existing road gullies, which will help catch the water running down Kidderminster Road. We are in contact with the neighbours affected and are working closely with them to assist in the clean-up operation.

“Once complete our development will include a sustainable drainage system. This will reduce the site’s volume of surface water and run-off rates and minimise the risk of flooding in the future.”