Drivers stranded after wind and rain batters Winter Fair  

Showgoers were left stranded at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair after Storm Clodagh caused the River Wye to burst its banks.

About 30 cars were marooned up to their bonnets in floodwaters up to 4ft high on Monday (30 November), the first day of the event in Builth Wells.

The Met Office said up to 40mm of rain fell on the showground site in 24 hours from 9am on Monday.

Many vehicles could not be started or moved until water levels receded.

Usk Young Farmer Laura Baker returned to the car park with her parents Stuart and Dora Andrews at 7pm and couldn’t reach their vehicle.

“There was lots and lots of water and everyone’s car alarms were going off.

“Our car was on the far side of the field, so we couldn’t get to it.”

Unfortunately, Mrs Baker’s sister-in-law Caroline Andrews had left earlier in the day and had taken their Landrover Defender to collect her children from nursery, leaving her Audi A3 for them to take home.

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Mrs Baker’s father borrowed a Manitou in a last-ditch attempt to reach her car, but had to turn around when water started coming into the cab.

“You wouldn’t believe how deep it was; it was crazy. The water was halfway up the windows.”

Mrs Baker said other people were attempting to move their vehicles.

“Some people did move their cars and water was gushing out of the doors.”

In the end event organiser the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) arranged for a taxi to take them home to Usk, Monmouthshire.

© Richard Stanton

The society said the river had risen very quickly without prior warning, so they didn’t have time to warn visitors.

An RWAS spokesman said: “We had a team of people helping those whose cars could be started to get them on to the road.

“We arranged taxis to take people home whose cars couldn’t be moved. These were paid for by the society as a gesture of goodwill.”

The two-day event went ahead as planned on Tuesday (1 December) and the society said it had already removed many of the cars.

Were you affected by flooding at the Winter Fair? Call the newsdesk now on 020 8652 4905 or email your flood pictures to philip.case@rbi.co.uk