Body found in search for man missing during Storm Bert

A body has been found by police searching for a man who went missing in a river during Storm Bert.

Formal identification has yet to take place but the family of Brian Perry, 75, have been informed.

North Wales Police said the man, who went missing in the River Conwy near Trefriw in Conwy county at about 16:30 GMT on Saturday, had been out walking with his wife and dog.

They said the area had been affected by "significant floodwater".

Chief Insp Simon Kneale said Mr Perry's family was being supported by officers.

“This is a particularly difficult time for this gentleman’s family,” he said.

Homes and roads have flooded and dozens of flood warnings are in force across Wales as Storm Bert continues to batter the UK.

Cars were lifted off their wheels after the Ebbw River burst its banks and flooded Pandy Park at Cross Keys, near Newport

In south Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf council declared a major incident due to "significant flooding" across the county, including in Pontypridd where residents have been bailing out their homes.

Many of the flooded properties are on Sion Street, where cars have been left stranded in deep water.

One resident said they received no warning until the water began coming in at about 08:00 on Sunday.

Rest centres have been set up for people affected by flooding at Ystrad Sports Centre, Pontypridd Library and Aberdare's Sobell Leisure Centre.

Businessman Steve West said he had cleared his office in Mill Street and had to "just hope for the best".

"The shops behind me, they've been affected worse because they're at a dip," he told BBC News.

"We're just waiting for the water to recede now really and we'll go and help clear out the other shops."

Flooding on Mill Street in Pontypridd

Council leader Andrew Morgan said the river had broken its bank at Aberavon, Mountain Ash and Abercynon, as well as Pontypridd.

"We have given out thousands of sandbags but, yet again, the intensity of the weather has simply overwhelmed," he added.

More than 10,000 people across Rhondda Cynon Taf have also been advised to boil their tap water after Welsh Water "identified an issue with quality of water" at Tynywaun water treatment works.

The county was hit by extensive flooding during Storm Dennis in 2020.

Pontypridd residents bail out their houses after flooding

Flooding has also been reported in Caerphilly and Newport and there have been landslides in Wrexham county and Merthyr Tydfil.

Natural Resources Wales has issued more than 40 flood warnings and 50 alerts.

The National Grid said about 1,300 properties were without power in south and west Wales on Sunday morning

Traffic Wales said a number of roads had been closed due to flooding and fallen trees.

Cars have also been submerged in flood water at Blackwood in Caerphilly county

The heavy rain has also caused a number of landslips.

Firefighters were called to the A4106 Bwlch Road from Treorchy to Nantymoel overnight, where debris was strewn across the highway.

And there was a landslip in Merthyr Tydfil, causing the Brecon Mountain Railway to abandon its special Christmas services.

A landslip has closed the A4106 Bwlch Road between Treorchy and Nantymoel in Rhondda Cynon Taf

A weather warning is in place for strong wind until 21:00, covering Anglesey, Bridgend, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Gwynedd, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and Vale of Glamorgan.

The Met Office said the worst of the rain was expected to clear by early afternoon on Sunday, but a few places, particularly over hills, may see an additional 30-40mm (1.1-1.6in).