Treorchy homes evacuated in flash flooding after pumping station failure

Up to 30 homes in Treorchy have been evacuated after flash flooding when a pumping station failed during heavy rainfall on Saturday night.

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water said the problem had been fixed, and said it was "extremely sorry" to those affected.

An emergency centre was set up at Rhondda leisure centre by Rhondda Cynon Taf council.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service pumped water from homes in Rees Street and High Street at around 22:00 GMT.

A Welsh Water spokesman said: "Dwr Cymru Welsh Water attended a sewer flooding incident last night on High Street Treorchy.

"We were on site as soon as possible to investigate the situation which was caused by a failure at a local pumping station, combined with heavy rainfall.

"We worked overnight to fix the problem and ensure the flooding subsided.

"We are extremely sorry and now liaising with the customers affected to offer support and ensure any damage to their properties is affected."

The company added that it would do "all it can" to ensure things were back to normal for residents by Christmas.

Council workers and police were involved in the evacuation operation but no-one needed to stay in the rescue centre at Ystrad overnight.

One resident Kelly Powell, a mother-of-three, said: "Nothing's been saved, it's gone from front to back right though - I've lost everything.

"Even the kitchen cupboards have started swelling".

Rhondda assembly member Leighton Andrews said he had spoken to a number of residents and "clearly many have suffered significant damage in the run-up to Christmas".

Mr Andrews, who has seen inside two of the homes affected, said Welsh Water had accepted it was their responsibility to compensate residents.

"Residents are understandably angry - this is not the first time there has been flooding and I have been to talk to them before about these problems," he said.

"They are now looking to Welsh Water to make good on their promises."