Parts of north Wales have been hit by floods after hours of rain, threatening homes, shops and an historic castle.

The Environment Agency has issued amber flood warnings for the River Dovey at Machynlleth and the Mawddach and Wnion at Dolgellau.

Firefighters have tackled a series of flooding incidents in the Llanbedrog and Beaumaris areas of Anglesey.

Homes and roads are reported to have been affected by the rising flood water.

Winter deluge

The National Weather Centre in Cardiff said that 114mm of rain had fallen in Capel Curig in the 36 hours until 0600 GMT on Wednesday.

The average rainfall for whole of January in the Snowdonia town is 282mm.

At least three roads were closed by the flood water - including the A497 near Criccieth.

Four vehicles were stranded on a road on Anglesey while firefighters pumped out a house nearby.

Sandbags were brought in to protect a row of shops in Bangor that were threatened by the rising water.

School hit by floods

A foot of water was pumped from underneath Hillgrove School in Bangor after the cellars became flooded.

At Beaumaris Castle the level of the moat has risen and spread across the grounds towards the entrance, creating a wide lake.

North Wales Police said that driving conditions in the region were difficult, with localised flooding and surface water.

The heavy rain was forecast to continue until Thursday, when brighter weather is expected to move in from the west, with isolated heavy showers