“There’s two metres of water on the road”

Towns and villages across Montgomeryshire will be looking to reconnect with the outside world today following an absolute drenching inflicted by Storm Babet.

Reports posted by motorists this morning on the North Powys Community Travel Alerts Facebook page show that there are problems on all roads in and out of Welshpool with both the emergency services and Powys County Council highways team reporting one of their busiest nights of the year.

One motorist described the Oswestry road as being “two-metre deep in water” while others reported stranded cars blocking roads in several areas.

The advice remains in place to stay at home and only travel today if absolutely essential after the Severn and Vyrnwy rivers burst their banks.

Local schools, including Welshpool High School, closed early yesterday as several roads became impassable, with Head Teacher Jon Arnold praising parents and carers for their cooperation. Matters were further complicated though, when one of the buses carrying children home broke down.

The weekly Newtown Park Run was also cancelled this morning.

Although there is not likely to be much further rain today, common sense is called for with a Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson stressing: “Only travel if your journey is essential.”

The forecast is for dryer weather over the next 48 hours.

PICTURE: Lewis Llandrinio posted this to their Facebook page this morning showing the road close to the business.