Safety warning with more rain forecast

With the River Severn bursting its banks around Welshpool for the first time this year, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services (MAWWFRS) has issued an urgent warning to motorists.

Unbelievably, some drivers ignored warnings and tried to wade through flooded roads, as captured here by reader, Nev Pugh, on the airport straight.

And this driver wasn’t alone with further reports of stranded motorists on Sunday and Monday eating up valuable time that emergency services could use elsewhere.

So it has prompted a rare appeal from MAWWFRS for common sense to prevail. 

Road Safety Manager, Richie Felton said: “We appeal to motorists to pay attention to the road conditions, particularly when there are large amounts of standing water, and heed road signs indicating that a road is closed or flooded.

“Slow down when driving through standing water as this can cause you to aquaplane, losing control of your vehicle. Your vehicle may become stuck if you try to drive through floodwater and could even be swept away if the floodwater is moving.”

The forecast is for more rain over the coming two days.