A BIG issue vendor has lost his tent, clothes and all his belongings to flash flooding in Monmouth over the weekend.

Popular vendor Vincent Lewis historically sold the Big Issue opposite Lloyds Bank on Saint David’s Road in Cwmbran and recently moved to a new pitch on Monmouth high street in September.

Lewis was caught up in the initial damage, leaving him wading through water to escape.

“Within seconds- and I mean seconds – I look around and there’s flooding and I’m thinking: How am I going to get of here? I can’t get through. There’s no way out,” said Lewis.

“The water was up to my hip and I’m six foot. As I was walking back up the hill all you could see was bins and water everywhere and it was getting dangerous then. I did panic then to be honest with you.

“I was really worried for my life. I’ve been on the streets for a long time but it was the first time I’d really panicked. It was like high tide. It. Was really nasty.

“I’ve lost everything. My tent, all my bedding, all my clothes, all my paperwork, everything.”

Since Storm Claudia subsided, Lewis has managed to secure a new tent, and Big Issue has been trying to reach him to replace his lost belongings.

The local community in Monmouth has been supporting Lewis as the clean-up continues.

“There are very good people here. The community is pulling together. People have been giving free, hot food out,” said Lewis.

“Big Issue have been helping me out too but they haven’t been able to get to me because the roads have been blocked off.”

Big Issue is urging the public to support Vincent Lewis as he gets back on his feet by taking out a subscription in his aid.

Just like with sales Big Issue vendors make on the street, 50 per cent of all subscription fees go directly in Lewis’ pocket, with the other half enabling the Big Issue to offer support and earning opportunities for vendors.

Big Issue offices in South Wales described themselves as being in “crisis mode” after Storm Claudia brought severe flooding to southeastern Wales on Saturday November 15, severely impacting their vendors’ lives and their ability to make an income.

Many vendors were completely unable to sell over the weekend, and those who did venture out over the weekend saw little footfall on their pitches.

This is not the first time storms have severely hit Big Issue vendors in Wales. In November 2024, when Storm Bert brought record-breaking rainfall and river levels to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Big Issue vendors in Wales were hugely disrupted, with nearly 20 per cent less sales recorded than in the same week a year earlier.

Catherine Parsons, Managing Director of the Big Issue, said: “Our team is doing all we can to help Vincent recover from this awful setback. We’re using our Hand-Up Fund to replace items like clothing and shoes that were destroyed by the flood.

“Anything you can to support Vincent or any of your local Big Issue vendors is hugely appreciated as we recover from the significant impact of the storm.”