Floods and hail cause chaos

Fire crews struggled to cope with the floods

Homes and shops in north Wales were flooded and roads were closed following freak weather on Monday.

Two bridges collapsed and some people were trapped in their homes after heavy rain and hail fell within an hour.

Fire crews had to pump out homes after flash floods hit several towns and villages on the Llyn Peninsula.

Mopping up operations

The rain started at around 0600BST. Within an hour homes and businesses were inundated.

Hailstones fell so heavily in Pwllheli that they compacted a foot deep - forcing people to dig their cars out.

Properties in the main shopping area around Y Maes were affected, and surrounding villages at Llanbedrog, Y Ffôr and Chwilog were also hit - first by rain, then by hail, producing an unseasonal white-out in some areas.

Fire crews were called to dozens of houses, shops and offices which suffered from flooding.

Officers and appliances were called to an estimated 60 incidents.

An unseasonal scene for August

A large area of the peninsula was affected.

North Wales Police said two small road bridges collapsed following a surge of water on B roads near the village of Pencaenewydd, near Pwllheli.

There was also flash flooding in Connah's Quay in north east Wales.