Storm Arwen: Trains halted and homes lose power in Wales

Thousands of homes in Wales were still without power on Saturday evening, travel was disrupted, and an animal rescue building was badly damaged by strong winds from Storm Arwen.

Transport for Wales suspended the majority of its rail services, and major roads were blocked due to fallen trees and debris.

A wind speed of 81mph (130km/h) was recorded at Aberporth, Ceredigion.

Energy companies said power cuts had affected tens of thousands of homes.

Western Power Distribution said homes in south, west and mid Wales had been affected, and SP Energy Networks reported thousands of households across north Wales, Powys and northern Ceredigion had experienced power cuts.

At one point more than 30,000 homes were without electricity across Wales.

North Wales Police encouraged people to get in touch if they had concerns for vulnerable people who may be without power.

Meanwhile, a woman in Bridgend had a narrow escape when a large tree fell just feet away from her, and ITV had to cancel weekend episodes of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! after the production area in Gwrych Castle, Conwy, was damaged.

Dog rescue charity Many Tears Animal Rescue in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, said it suffered "catastrophic damage" overnight with the storm.

"We have been without power since the early hours, buildings are destroyed and we are devastated that one puppy has died," it said in a Facebook post.

"The new classroom we have spent so long creating is in pieces with debris flying dangerously in the winds."

In Gwynedd, Bangor University tweeted that a sports dome covering pitches at its fitness centre, Canolfan Brailsford, had "suffered catastrophic damage" and would be closed for the "foreseeable future".

The occupants of a caravan were unharmed when a tree fell on to it at Lake Vyrnwy Holiday Home Park in Powys.

A roof was blown off a house in Trebanog, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, which closed the A4233, although the road reopened by the afternoon.

The M48 Severn Bridge was closed all day, while the A484 in Carmarthenshire, the A475 in Ceredigion and the A466 in Monmouthshire were all closed due to trees or debris blocking the road.

A Met Office amber warning for most of north and west Wales lifted at 09:00 GMT on Saturday, but a yellow warning remained in place until 18:00.

Transport for Wales said it suspended train services on all but Cardiff Valleys lines due to "significant damage caused overnight by Storm Arwen... with multiple fallen trees and debris blocking lines".

"Numerous roads are also inaccessible and closed due to fallen trees and flying debris, making replacement road transport options difficult," it added.

Great Western Railway said a tree fell on the railway between Swansea and Cardiff Central blocking all lines towards Cardiff Central.

South Wales Police said officers were dealing with a number of incidents..

"Wherever you are, please take extra care when out driving in these conditions," it said.

The affected roads included the A470 at Llyswen, Powys; A485 at Pontarsais, Carmarthenshire; A494 Bontnewydd, Gwynedd, and A525 between Broad Oak Lane and A495 Ellesmere Road in Wrexham.

The A5 in Llanfairpwll and A4080 in Llanfaelog, Anglesey, was also closed due to fallen trees blocking the road.

Shopkeeper Eirian Connelly said she had to use lanterns when she opened Pendyffryn Stores in Betws y Coed, Conwy county, at 06:00 due to a power cut.

"The electricity came back at 09:20 and it had gone off again at 09:50 so we are back to square one," she said.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 testing units have been shut due to the weather at Pwllheli, Corwen, Llangefni, Abergele and Caernarfon, according to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Holyhead Coastguard said a number of vessels broke their moorings in the Conwy estuary overnight.

The RNLI had warned that visits to the coast during Storm Arwen could be "treacherous".

It encouraged people to exercise extreme caution if visiting the shoreline, especially along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers.