Wales weather: Storms and gales batter southern part of country

Storms and gale force winds have battered much of Wales with fallen trees causing chaos on many roads.

The Met Office warned of "renewed severe gales" and gusts of up to 80mph during the day, mainly in the south.

Fallen trees have blocked roads and damaged buildings, while power has been restored to 1,300 homes that were cut off on Tuesday.

Flood warnings that were in place on Wednesday have been stood down but a high tide warning remains in place.

Porthcawl lighthouse took another battering in the storms on Wednesday

Huge waves crashed over the top of the lighthouse

Arriva Trains Wales ‏has said a landslip between Llandrindod Wells and Knighton in Powys has blocked all lines and a road replacement service has been set up.

Elsewhere in the county, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue said there was severe flooding on the A470 between Libanus and Brecon. Powys council has provided sandbags.

The weather has also caused traffic problems.

The A477 Cleddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire has reopened after being closed to all traffic and the A470 northbound in Abercynon, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was shut due to heavy traffic and an overhanging tree between the A4059/A472 (Abercynon roundabout) and the A4060 (Abercanaid roundabout).

Cardiff council has been forced to close the barrage in the bay because the wind and tide threw debris over the road.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service say they have been dealing with a number of calls involving dangerous structures across Cardiff and Rhondda Cynon Taf due to the bad weather.

Other incidents on Wednesday included:

• The A48 Cowbridge by-pass in Vale of Glamorgan was closed in both directions after a car overturned, and one lane on the original Severn Bridge was closed because of the winds

• Swansea coastguard and Port Talbot inshore lifeboat brought in a 25ft (8m) boat after it broke free from its moorings on the River Afon near Aberavon. Two people were on board but no one was injured

• In Gwynedd, a hotel was damaged by falling trees for a second time this year. The conservatory at the Cadwgan Hotel in Dyffryn Ardudwy was wrecked when a large tree fell on it during the night. In January, the children's play area was severely damaged when three trees in the grounds fell down

• Carew Castle was closed to the public because of the weather

• Pembrokeshire council has been clearing washed up pebbles from roads in Broad Haven, Nolton Haven and Dale

• Penarth seafront remains closed due to flooding

• Clements Colley Walk, Barry Island, is also closed

• The A4139 has been locked in both directions after a tree fell between Lamphey and Hodgeston.

On Tuesday evening, a man was taken to hospital after a tree fell onto a recovery truck St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, and flooded roads across Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire being closed.

Western Power Distribution (WPD) said homes in Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Powys, Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot were affected by power cuts on Tuesday night but this has since been restored.

Further weather warnings remain in place on Wednesday with the wind whipping up large waves and causing a large swell along the south west Wales coast. This will bring an increased risk of flooding.

Council workmen in Pembrokeshire were monitoring the county's coastline overnight and further inland.

There was an amber "be prepared" warning for wind in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Caerphilly and Cardiff.

A less serious yellow warning was in place for wind for the rest of the southern half of the country.

Flood water at Trearddur Bay flood swept over the RNLI's camera lens as this picture was taken

The RNLI captured this image of sea water flooding at Trearddur Bay on Anglesey on Wednesday