Residents in north Wales helped battle the floodwater

Pembrokeshire and Gwynedd were worst-hit, with floodwater reaching 18in (45cm) deep in Haverfordwest.

In Milford Haven, more than an average month's rainfall has fallen in the last 24 hours.

On Wednesday, there was one flood warning in place at Llanrwst, Conwy, and eight flood watches across south, west and north Wales.

At the height of the flooding, fire crews in Pembrokeshire were dealing with 50 separate incidents.

FLOOD WATCHES Rivers in Gwynedd, Conwy and Anglesey Rivers Mawddach, Wnion and the town of Dolgellau Rivers in south west Wales between Carmarthen and Llantwit Major Rivers in south west Wales between Clarach Bay, north of Aberystwyth, and Carmarthen, including Carmarthen The River Cynin at St Clears The River Solva at Solva The River Western Cleddau at Haverfordwest The Rivers Taf and Gronw at Whitland

About 100 council workers were also called out to help place sandbags at properties in the worst affected areas.

Parts of Haverfordwest town centre were badly hit, while properties in Newport, Solva and Dinas Cross were pumped out by fire crews.

In Broad Haven, the local school will be closed on Wednesday after the grounds were flooded.

Cardiff Met Office said there was more than an average month's rainfall in Milford Haven in the last 24 hours.

A total of 113.8mm of rain fell there, compared to the monthly average of 110mm.

'Heaviest flooding'

John Mosedale, flood risk manager for the Environment Agency Wales, said more rain on Wednesday could lead to further problems.

"We are hoping it's not going to rain for as long as yesterday," he said.

"We've left flood watches on rivers in Pembrokeshire, so people need to keep their eye on things.

"If they are concerned, they can ring our floodline number."

Mr Mosedale added: "There's nothing exceptional (about the flooding) except in Haverfordwest.

"It was the heaviest flooding in the Western Cleddau since records began in the 1960s.

Firefighters pumped water from homes and businesses

"If it wasn't for the flood defence scheme we built in the 1980s, it could have been far worse."

In north Wales, the A499 Pwllheli to Llanbedrog road is closed on Wednesday, while overnight around 20 properties were flooded at Groeslon, near Caernarfon.

On Wednesday the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for Conwy Valley and Llanrwst, while eight flood watches are in force.

North and west Wales were among the worst areas of the UK affected by the floods.

Also badly-hit were south-west Scotland and Cumbria.

Anyone concerned about flooding in their area can call the Environment Agency's 24-hour floodline on 0845 988 1188.