Flood victims return to their homes (From The Oxford Times)

Flood victims return to their homes

1:56pm Sunday 10th June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Hundreds of people evacuated following flash flooding in west Wales are returning to their homes and caravans.

Villages in the county of Ceredigion were flooded by up to 5ft (1.5m) of water, while some 150 residents and holidaymakers were rescued and evacuated from homes and caravan parks near Aberystwyth after twice as much rain fell in 24 hours as normally falls in the area in the whole of June.

Police said the overall number who left their homes was nearer 1,000. Some spent the night in the centres if they were not able to make their own arrangements. Dyfed-Powys Police said three people needed treatment for minor injuries.

Fire crews are again working around the clock, continuing to pump out water from a number of locations. Although many roads have reopened, a flood warning remains in place and water has yet to recede fully in some places. A number of caravans and tents in the Aberystwyth Holiday Park remained cut off from land - with some occupants surveying any possible damage from afar.

The Environment Agency Wales said the flooding had been an "unprecedented event". Although the weather has stayed largely dry since the flooding, agency officials reminded people to stay away from rivers and flooded areas. But where the water has subsided considerably, those affected have been returning to their homes and caravans.

The Environment Agency has advised people to be alert for disruption from possible flooding across parts of northern England later today and southern England tonight and tomorrow. A spokesman said prolonged and heavy rain is forecast over parts of central-southern and south eastern England overnight and during tomorrow, bringing the possibility of river and surface water flooding. Because of the complex weather, there is still some uncertainty as to the locations most at risk, but the situation will continue to be closely monitored.

Later, it emerged North Wales Police officers were evacuating residents from the village of Pennal, near Machynlleth, Powys, following a slight breach in the dam of a local reservoir which had caused a small amount of water to escape.

A police spokeswoman said residents were being transported to Machynlleth Leisure Centre. "Staff from the local councils, representatives from the local water board, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and officers from North Wales Police are at the scene working to stabilise the situation," she said. "At this current time it is thought that the breach may have been caused by a landslide."

Superintendent Andy Jenks-Gilbert said the evacuation was taking place as a precautionary measure. A crack had been found in a stone wall at the reservoir and a small amount of water had escaped, he said.

"Should the wall be completely breached, the contents of the reservoir will go into the river which flows through the village of Pennal, which is around half a mile from the reservoir. Police officers are evacuating residents in the area and would ask visitors and locals to avoid the village at this current time."