Clean-up begins after torrential downpours

RESIDENTS were counting the cost after torrential rain and strong winds battered parts of South West Wales at the weekend.

Flash flooding caused damage to houses and left some motorists facing travel misery.

Mid and West Fire Service crews dealt with five rescues in Swansea and Carmarthenshire as crews attended more than 100 incidents

Sunday morning's torrential rain caused damage in and around Swansea, with the trapped occupants of a car rescued by fire fighters in Landore.

Floodwater swept through the Haulfryn area of Birchgrove. Reports suggest a blocked culvert had burst, releasing a mass of water.

Resident Ian Govier said: "One woman said she thought she was dreaming when she woke up and looked outside."

Swansea Council has been helping with the mop-up in Birchgrove.

"We're certainly aware of the issue," said a spokesman. "Officers spent time clearing materials that were deposited by the flooding. I'm told the situation is back to normal now but that we're continuing to keep an eye on the area."

In Carmarthenshire, heavy rainfall saw Environment Agency Wales issue flood warnings on the Llynfi, Amman, Loughor and Cynin rivers.

Two adults and a baby were rescued from Glenavon, Meidrim, after water built up in the basement. A further three people were also rescued from another house in Meidrim.

In Ammanford, floodwater was pumped from 38 Colonel Road, Betws, and sandbags were laid down to prevent further flooding.

Carmarthenshire Council's director of technical services Richard Workman said: "The council received a total of 120 calls in the space of seven hours on Sunday. We had more than 40 workers out dealing with the incidents and around 1,500 sandbags were used."