TORRENTIAL rain during last week has caused severe flooding across large parts of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, with the fire and rescue services from Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Gwent all reporting serious incidents.
As the rain began to increase, commuters returning home to the Forest from Gloucester and South Wales on Monday afternoon and evening reported that they had to negotiate deep standing water on all A roads into the Forest and also on the M50, M5, M4, M48 and Ross spur road and bypass.
At Lydbrook householders, used sandbags and car and van doors to build a makeshift barrier across the main road to divert the water towards the main storm drains reducing the threat.
Tony O'Leary, landlord of the Jovial Collers Inn said: "It started to come across the road in the evening, and we had to go out several times to clear the grids of leaves as they were blocking up very quickly indeed. We also lifted what manhole covers we could, but the flow was terrific and came up fast.
"Luckily, while the water reached the bay window of the pub, we managed to keep the water out and the electricity on."
The main road through the village was closed until Boxing Day with traffic diverted up Church Hill.
The River Wye broke its banks at Lower Lydbrook on Christmas Day causing cars to stall in deep water on the main Ross Road.
Homes in Lydney, Whitecroft, Littledean, and Coleford were inundated as the rain kept on falling.
High winds at the end of the week brought down trees and took off roof slates across the area during the early hours of Friday morning and also closed the old Severn Bridge for much of the day.
Lakeside Avenue, Lydney was again badly flooded – with accusations that debris from tree felling had blocked a culvert.
Resident Amy Howells told the Review: "This has been a constant problem for years, and we are having so many problems. We can't find out who is responsible for the mess that is blocking the culvert. We have had our local councillors Jim Bevan and Alan Preest looking at it and we're hoping that somebody can get to the bottom of it.
Resident, Colin Legg, who has cleared the problem culvert of debris on numerous occasions, told the Review: "I have lost two cars to the floods – and lots of stuff from my garage – and this is all down to the culvert constantly blocking up.
Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways and flooding at Gloucestershire County Council, was due to meet the county councillor for Lydbrook, Colin Guyton, to review the situation.
A woman and her baby were rescued from their stranded car, trapped in floods on Abbey Road, Monmouth by local fire crews.
Monmouthshire Council's chief executive, Paul Matthews, said "Roads have been kept open and safe, allowing people to travel in the run-up to Christmas, and businesses are able to operate as usual.
"Our staff have (dealt) with floods, delivering and distributing sandbags, and removing fallen branches in very unpleasant conditions."
Among the many incidents they had to deal with was a tree which fell and blocked the A40 and a landslip near Tintern.