RIVERS across Oxfordshire continued to rise yesterday and plunging temperatures led to car crashes on icy roads.

The Thames in Oxford went up nearly 10cm in 24 hours to reach just over a metre above average yesterday afternoon.

Rain over the weekend and yesterday will continue to percolate through the ground and into rivers, pushing levels up for the next few days.

Last night 13 flood alerts remained in place for Oxfordshire rivers including the Thames, Cherwell, Windrush and Ock, meaning flooding is possible and people should be prepared. But the Environment Agency says it is unlikely any Oxford roads and properties will be flooded.

Operations manager Peter Collins, who works at the EA’s depot in Oxford, said it would take a “substantial amount of rain” to flood the city, which was not likely.

Rainwater yesterday flooded the car park at Edwin Court in Binsey Lane, Oxford, and there was surface water flooding in rural areas.

Kevin McDermott, owner of the Maybush Inn, which sits on the Thames at Newbridge near Southmoor, said his car park had been under water for two weeks.

He said: “If you were to drive a car through our bottom car park it would conk out.

“It is a good 12 to 18 inches under and obviously this has caused us a few difficulties but the pub is still open.”

In 2011 pub managers at the Maybush installed defences to cope with any water getting inside the pub.

Mr McDermott said he was hopeful they would prove resilient if they were called into action.

This morning flood alerts remained in place for the River Thames and its tributaries in the Oxford area, and for the Thames from Buscot Wick to Kings Lock.

There were also alerts for the Thames in the Abingdon area and the River Ock from Watchfield to Abingdon and Letcombe Brook at Wantage, Grove and East Hanney.

The Thames and its tributaries from Days Lock at Little Wittenham to above Pangbourne remained on alert, and so did the Cherwell from Lower Heyford down to and including Oxford.

Temperatures are set to hover around freezing for the next three days then plunge below zero at the weekend.

Yesterday, icy weather conditions caused accidents on roads across Oxfordshire.

Two people were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital after an accident involving two cars on B4022 Banbury Hill at 8.30am.

South Central Ambulance Service said a group of adults and children were involved but only two were taken to hospital.

The A34 was also blocked for several hours following a four-vehicle crash at East Ilsley at about 11.50am. Traffic queued for six miles and congestion extended to M4 J13 at Chievely before roads were cleared by around 1pm.

There were also three crashes yesterday morning in Wantage due to icy conditions, including a car driving into a hedge because of black ice.

Chain Hill in Wantage was partly blocked during the morning due to the collisions between Alfredston Place and Bitham Road but was cleared by midday.

Light showers are forecast for tomorrow afternoon then on Saturday Oxfordshire is set to be graced with sunshine from 9am to 3pm.