Water supply back on after freeze

Water bowsers have been sent out across the Rhondda valley

More than 5,000 homes and businesses in south Wales have had their water supply restored after freezing weather damaged pipes to a treatment works.

Late on Wednesday Welsh Water said all the premises in the Rhondda Fach valley had their supplies reconnected.

Water bowsers have been sent to streets with water tankers refilling supplies since problems started on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a house and gardens in Carmarthenshire has been forced to close because of the cold weather.

Late on Wednesday Welsh Water said a treatment works in the Rhondda was now operating normally.

In a statement, it said: "Water supplies have now been restored to the great majority of customers in the Rhondda Fach.

"The areas where customers are still affected are the upper parts of Tylorstown and Ferndale.

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The statement continued: "Water bowsers will continue to be deployed in these areas until we are confident that mains water supplies are fully restored to everyone.

"Tankering of water to the Maerdy water treatment works will continue throughout the night to boost supplies to local people until the situation is fully back to normal."

The firm said it had earlier made bottled water available to customers with special needs and mothers with young babies.

Welsh Water said freezing conditions caused a cast iron mains between Porth and Maerdy to burst on Tuesday.

Nine local schools closed as the water supply to the area was severely disrupted, and one local factory had been left without water needed for water-cooling processes..

The firm sent in around four dozen bowsers for people to fill their own containers with fresh water. Two bowers were reported stolen and other three vandalised.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council said it had assurances that all its schools would reopen on Thursday, while only Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Denbighshire were expecting school closures.

Local people spoke of the difficulties

The weather has led to hospitals reporting a rise in patients with ice-related injuries, prompting one accident and emergency consultant to urge elderly people to stay inside during below freezing temperatures.

Meanwhile, Aberglasney Gardens, a restored mansion in Carmarthenshire, is to remain closed until conditions improve.

It is the first time since its restoration 10 years ago that Aberglasney has been forced to close for an extended period.

Operations director Graham Rankin, said: "The gardens look so beautiful, it's a pity the public can't see how stunning everything is at the moment."

BBC Wales meteorologist Derek Brockway said the cold weather was gradually easing its grip, with temperatures for the next few days and nights not as low as recently.

He said: "Because there is more cloud, there is less cold air. This evening any rain will die away leaving a dry night with a slight to moderate frost."

The only weather station in Wales not to record extreme cold temperatures was at Valley, on Anglesey.

Anyone in the Rhondda experiencing persistent problems with their water supply should contact Welsh Water on 0800 052 0130.