FLOODS and storms hit Monmouthshire last week, causing the River Wye to burst its banks at high tide, flooding a number of properties.

The Met Office issued a yellow warning for wind and rain in Monmouthshire and the Environment Agency issued flood warnings for Monmouth last Friday (3rd January).

The water level at Ross-on-Wye measured 4.4 metres with the level at Monmouth 4.3 metres and rising. The Monmouth rowing club underpass gates were also closed.

Due to the River Wye reaching high tide at Tintern on Friday, part of the A466 was closed for 20 minutes before and 20 minutes after the tide reached its peak at 9am and 9.26pm. It was also closed at 9.47am and 10.12pm the following day.

On Friday Roger Hoggins, Monmouthshire County Council's (MCC) head of operations, said: "The predicted tides are high, but below what would normally result in property flooding.

"However, the combination of high tides, flood water, high winds and forecasted tidal surge in the Severn, together with the low pressure, means that properties may be at risk of flood."

Council lorries were placed north of the Royal George Hotel and by the Wye Valley Hotel to block the road while the closure was in effect.

The Vice Chairman of Tintern Community Council, Councillor Tony Hayward, said: "We're used to flooding here, we just get on and manage it ourselves.

"Usually the river doesn't come further than our gardens but some houses have been flooded in these high tides. We usually suffer more from water running off the hills in heavy rain.

"There are containers of sandbags at either end of the village so we just help ourselves and manage our own defences. It has been like that for 20 years, we just get used to it."

Monmouth MP David Davies spoke on a visit to Tintern last Friday (3rd January), thanking Monmouthshire's team of highway workers. He said: "Council workers are doing their utmost to keep residents safe and to minimise the extent of damage caused by the storm surge.

"Obviously nobody can hold back the tides but I was told some people have been working up to 17 hours at a time to ensure drains remain clear, as well as issuing sandbags.

"What we are seeing at the moment is extremely bad weather coinciding with exceptional high tides and it is vital that everything possible is done to help those affected."

As the Beacon went to press weather warnings of strong wind and rain were lifted for Monmouthshire.

For more pictures of the flooding, head to http://www.chepstowbeacon.co.uk">www.chepstowbeacon.co.uk