Commuter chaos as weekend rain closes roads

COMMUTERS faced rush hour delays today after the weekend’s heavy rain closed roads and disrupted services.

This morning’s problems followed chaos on the M1 last night, when junctions 43 to 48 of the northbound carriageway and junctions 48 to 45 of the southbound carriageway were closed, due to flooding.

West Yorkshire Police said the motorway was shut in both directions after flash flooding made driving too dangerous.

The carriageway later reopened at 1.40am today.

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“Traffic disruption was minimal due to the time it happened,” a spokesman said.

West Yorkshire Fire Service said it had received “numerous” reports of flash flooding in the Garforth, Swillington and Austhorpe areas of Leeds from about 8pm yesterday.

A spokesman for the brigade said: “Rain is causing the drains to back up and water is entering several properties. Highways and police are working with the fire and rescue service to do as much as possible for local residents and businesses.”

Flooding closed one westbound lane of the A63 Selby Road to Leeds this morning between the Old George roundabout in Garforth, and Austhorpe.

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Properties on roads around Church Lane in Swillington were reported to be among those affected by the flooding.

In Wales, residents evacuated after floods tore through their their homes continued with the clear-up today.

Authorities carried out a controlled release of water from a derelict quarry last night.

The drama was just 20 miles from where flash floods on Saturday morning brought havoc to communities in west Wales following heavy rainfall.

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North Wales Police evacuated residents from the village of Pennal, near Machynlleth, Powys, following a breach in the dam of a quarry.

They were taken to Machynlleth Leisure Centre and other temporary refuges.

Superintendent Andy Jenks-Gilbert said the evacuation was a precautionary measure. A crack had been found in a wall and a small amount of water had escaped.

“Should the wall be completely breached, the contents of the reservoir will go into the river which flows through the village,” he said.

Residents were evacuated from the area and visitors were asked to avoid the village.

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