FLOODING caused chaos across Gwent yesterday with local authorities and emergency services battling to save people and properties at risk.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning early in the morning, and this remained in place until 11.55pm last night.

All but one of the 22 Welsh local authorities were covered by the advisory notice.

Gusts of up to 50 mph were expected to develop throughout the day, with the Met Office advising motorists to be aware of possible localised flooding and transport disruption.

The chief forecaster said: “Some 20 to 30 mm of rain may fall in a three to six hour period in places, with as much as 40 to 60 mm possible locally through the whole of Monday.”

On the railway, journeys between Newport and London were cancelled due to flooding on tracks across the border in Gloucestershire.

Great Western Railway (GWR) routes between Swindon and Bristol Parkway were diverted after flooding in Chipping Sodbury.

The service cancelled all trains between London Paddington and Cardiff at 15 minutes past the hour and 55 minutes past the hour.

Businesses along Cromwell Road in Newport were affected by a blocked drain outside their premises, prompting a response from Newport City Council and Welsh Water.

Sandbags were placed along the entrance to Raven House Trust to prevent further water from seeping into the building.

Employees ensured that furniture and other items close to the entrance were kept away from the front door.

Jane Thompson, assistant manager at the property, said: “We’d noticed that the water levels were coming up to the pavement earlier this morning so we reported it to the council and the water board.

“We were told that one of the drains had been blocked but the water had only come in as far as the window area.

“All of the things we have here, we donate to families in need so we were lucky to get to one of our three-piece suites in time.”

Firefighters were kept busy in Torfaen, with crews attending incidents in Pontypool and Cwmbran.

Brynmawr firefighters assisted with flooding at a property in Cwmcelyn, Blaina.

Widespread surface flooding was reported on roads in Monmouthshire, particularly in Chepstow, Usk and Monmouth.

In Abergavenny, firefighters helped with flooding affecting electrics in a store on Frogmore Street.

Highways engineering firm Costain also issued a warning for drivers along the A465 Brynmawr and Gilwern.

County council chief executive Paul Matthews tweeted: “[Flooding] pretty much everywhere in terms of minor highway surface flooding. Lots of flooded fields in Usk area.”

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