Wales storm: Flooding and travel disruption

Residents have been mopping up after gales and heavy rain brought flooding across south and west Wales.

Ten homes were flooded in Abergavenny in Monmouthshire and fire crews dealt with calls in places stretching from Pembrokeshire to the Rhondda valley.

There were still four flood warnings and 16 flood alerts in place at 22:00 GMT on Tuesday while some trains and ferries were disrupted.

Sleet and snow brought tricky driving conditions on the A470 in Gwynedd.

Although the worst incidents happened overnight, there were still problems due to high winds during daytime on Tuesday.

Woodfield Street in Morriston in Swansea was closed at 14:00 GMT after slates were blown off a roof, while in Gorseinon a falling tree brought down power lines and landed on a parked car.

A tree also brought down an electric cable in Waungron, near Pontardulais, Swansea.

There are no reports of power loss in the area.

'Horrendous'

South Wales Fire and Rescue were called to 68 weather-related incidents in a 14 hour period until 02:00 GMT on Tuesday.

This included 10 homes at Llanover Way in Abergavenny, where crews were pumping flood water for most of the night.

Resident Michael Prys Williams told BBC Radio Wales the weather in town on Monday was "horrendous".

"I live 400 metres from the River Gavenny. It was the highest I've seen it in 20 years," he said.

The Fountain Inn in Trellech, Monmouthshire, was hit by 4ft (1.2m) of flood water after a nearby stream burst its banks.

Owners Steve and Jill Pocock were alerted by friends at 22:30 GMT on Monday. Firefighters spent three hours pumping the water out and neighbours helped clear up the damage.

"At the moment we are trying to mop up and make the best of what we can," Mr Pocock said.

"Everywhere we look is mud and slush and water. It's awful.

"All the water comes off the hills behind us and amalgamates at a brook and stream, which burst its banks. The water came across the garden like a tsunami.

"It's too soon to estimate the cost of the damage."

The couple have had to cancel lunch and evening meals for Christmas Day but a carol concert planned for Christmas Eve was due to go ahead.

Fire crews also dealt with flooding at Llanbadoc near Usk in the early hours of Tuesday although water levels had dropped by first light.

Howard Baker, landlord of the Bridge End Inn in Crickhowell, where the River Usk burst its banks, told BBC Wales that fire crews pumped out the pub's cellar.

"It's not as serious as 12 years ago but we've got to try and get the place back to some normality so we can keep trading," he said.

Crews also dealt with flooding incidents in Monmouth, Porth in Rhondda, Blackwood near Caerphilly and Newport.

Mid and West Wales Fire were called to flooding incidents in Carmarthen, Whitland, and Narberth and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire.

Irish Ferries have cancelled some crossings between Rosslare and Pembroke and Holyhead and Dublin.

Arriva Trains Wales cancelled some rail services in mid and south Wales due to flooding.

A landslip near Talerddig closed the Cambrian coast line.

But the Valleys line between Abercynon and Aberdare reopened after flooding at Penrhiwceiber.

Debris on the Cambrian Coast line near Talerddig

Graham Hillier from Natural Resources Wales told BBC Radio Wales on Tuesday morning that many swollen rivers were now receding, but flood warnings and alerts would remain in place.

He advised people to stay away from fast flowing rivers, flood water and coastlines.

Ed Evans, an engineer for the RAC, said colleagues had been busy clearing debris from the roads and rescuing motorists stranded in flood water.

He warned drivers not to venture into water if they were unsure of the depth and to make sure they prepare for long journeys by checking the tyre pressure on their cars along with oil and screen wash levels.

Meanwhile, the Ffos Las racecourse in Carmarthenshire has been forced to abandon its Boxing Day meeting due to a waterlogged track, although the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow is still due to take place on Saturday.

Amid heavy rain on Monday the body of a woman was recovered from a fast-flowing stream in Gwynedd.

Police and mountain rescuers were called to Nant Ffrancon near Bethesda after the woman failed to return home after checking its water supply.

Her death is not being treated as suspicious.

Flooding near Castell Dryslwyn in the Towy Valley on Christmas Eve