Storm Bert updates: Body found after man swept away by river amid severe flooding

Hundreds of properties have been flooded in south Wales.

At a press conference in the Rhondda Valley, council leader Andrew Morgan said two to three hundred properties have been affected by flooding.

He said the buildings are a mixture of residential and commercial properties.

Mr Morgan told the press conference the weather was worse than forecast.

“I am amazed that it was only a yellow weather warning issued,” he said. “We absolutely thought on Saturday … we were preparing for the possibility of an amber warning.

“It didn’t come but we took the decision ourselves to step up our resources and have depots open and crews in.”

Rania Koutsikou, 32, a part-time lecturer and PhD student at the University of South Wales impacted by the flooding in Pontypridd, said: “We woke up around seven o’clock only because our neighbour was knocking on our door saying that we have to move our car.

“Obviously it was already pretty bad even then. We moved our car, moved some of our stuff and our dog upstairs, and we went to our neighbours who offered us help.

“We’re just trying to save what we can. Nobody [official] took any action yesterday, like brought us sandbags or anything. People are very keen to help, as you can see, everyone is around, offering coffee, offering cookies, fire service are here now.

“I think everyone is safe, that’s the most important thing. But obviously it’s hard.”

North Wales Police said a body had been found in the search for 75-year-old Brian Perry, who went missing in the River Conwy near the market town of Llanwrst on Saturday.

The force had put an appeal out to find Mr Perry after he was last seen at around 4.30pm wearing a red Berghaus waterproof jacket and accompanied by his wife and dog. He had been walking near Gower Road, which has been affected by severe flooding due to Storm Bert.

There has been no formal identification but his family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Chief Inspector Simon Kneale, of North Wales Police, said: “I would like to thank the efforts of all agencies involved in the searches in very difficult conditions and for the local community who supported the teams in the area.

“Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time and they have asked that their privacy is respected.”

Sir Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda and Ogmore, said there are about 10 different areas in his constituency affected by flooding and a fundraising page has been set up to help those in need.

The MP said the river was 53cm higher in Rhondda than it was during Storm Dennis in February 2020. He said: “There’s about 10 different areas in the constituency where there’s been flooding, some have flooded previously and others are completely new.”

The Rheola pub has been flooded for about the third time in five years and this time it was “like a river running through the middle of it”, he said, while residents on Brook Street in Porth had to be evacuated by firefighters.

Sir Chris said: “Quite a few of the local people who I’ve spoken to today don’t have any insurance as if you’re hard up it’s the last bill you pay.”

He said a fundraising page has been launched to help those in need across the area.

Gusts in exposed coasts could exceed 70mph today, the Met Office has said.

Met Office chief meteorologist Andy Page said: “The strong southerly winds continue today and warnings are in place for central, southern and eastern England, Northern Ireland and western Scotland where gusts could peak at 60 mph and could even reach more than 70 mph along some exposed coasts.

The rainfall affecting much of the UK today will ease through the day, the Met Office has said.

Met Office chief meteorologist Andy Page said: “Impacts from Storm Bert will continue to cause disruption as we go through today, and multiple warnings are in place for wind and rain.”

“While the risk of any snowfall has now diminished, rainfall will affect much of the UK today, in particular some southwestern parts of England and South Wales, but the heaviest rain will ease from these areas through the day.

A body has been found in the search for 75-year-old Brian Perry after he went missing in the River Conwy on Saturday, North Wales Police said.

Firefighters have begun to pump water out of Sion Street in Pontypridd where several homes have been flooded.

This is the second time in four years the street – which runs alongside the River Taff – has experienced major flooding.

Members of the public have been arriving to pass out food and drinks to the emergency workers and people bailing water from their homes.

Busy rail routes have also been affected by the blustery weather.

Multiple fallen trees have damaged overhead electrical wires on the railway line between Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, causing major disruption until further notice, Greater Anglia said.

Great Western Railway services between Plymouth and Penzance, Reading and Basingstoke and Exeter and Barnstaple have had lines blocked by fallen trees leading to cancellations and delays.

Southwestern Railway services into London Waterloo have been disrupted by a tree blocking the railway between Fleet and Farnborough in Hampshire.

With nearly 400 areas at risk of flooding, severe flooding blocked railway lines between Birmingham New Street and Shrewsbury on Sunday morning, but all lines have now reopened. Trains on the route could still be disrupted until well into the afternoon, National Rail said.