M4 Prince of Wales Bridge shuts overnight amid Storm Bram disruption

Storm Bram has caused floods, power cuts and travel disruption across Wales, with heavy rain and winds of up to 85mph.

Lamp-posts on the Prince of Wales Bridge on the M4 were at potential risk of collapse, causing lane closures and long tailbacks on both the Welsh and English sides of the motorway.

The bridge was fully closed at 20:00 GMT on Tuesda, with a scheduled reopening time of 06:00 on Wednesday, to allow for the lamp-posts to be removed.

As of 22:00 on Tuesday, Natural Resources Wales had 13 flood warnings in force across mostly south and west Wales, along with 30 flood alerts.

The M48 old Severn Bridge closed on Tuesday due to high winds but later reopened.

National Highways closed lanes one and two of the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge in both directions following emergency inspections of the lamp-posts.

"Testing found several columns in need of immediate removal due to risk of collapse, but we have to wait for the high winds to subside before work can take place," it said in a statement.

"We thank drivers for their patience whilst we carry out this safety critical work."

MP Catherine Fookes said the closure of the Prince of Wales Bridge was "a major blow to Monmouthshire" and was compounded by the M48 bridge being closed to HGVs for up to 18 months from May this year.

The ban on HGVs weighing more than 7.5 tonnes was introduced by the Highways Agency due to the condition of the main bridge cables.

"Of course safety must be the number one priority, but I am extremely disappointed that these 'faulty lamp columns' on our vital bridge into England have been allowed to fall into disrepair," she added.

She said had requested an urgent meeting with National Highways "to investigate why this has happened, and how they intend to resolve the situation".

On Tuesday, a Met Office yellow warning was in place for wind and rain across Wales.

National Grid reported more than 1,600 properties being without power in south and west Wales as of 17:30 GMT.

In north Wales, SP Energy engineers have been tackling dozens of incidents including power cuts in Criccieth, Pwllheli, Bangor, Llanfairfechan, Colwyn Bay, Brynsiencyn, Y Felinheli, Waunfawr, Llanbedrgoch and Ty Croes.

Flood warnings were in place in the following locations:

• River Usk from Glangrwyne to Newbridge on Usk
• River Vyrnwy at Llanymynech
• River Towy, isolated properties between Llandeilo and Abergwil
• River Tyweli at Station Road, Llandysul
• River Teifi at Llandysul Bridge, Llandysul
• River Towy at Carmarthen Quay, Carmarthen
• River Towy between Llandeilo and Llangadog
• River Teifi at Llechryd
• River Teifi at Cenarth
• River Cothi at Pontargothi and Pontynyswen
• River Cothi at low lying areas - Pontargothi and Pontynyswen
• River Teifi at Newcastle Emlyn
• River Ritec at Tenby

According to Natural Resources Wales, a flood warning signifies that "flooding is expected" with immediate action required.

Latest Storm Bram reports on the BBC News live page

Disruption from flooding and blocked rail lines were reported in various parts of Wales, causing delays and line closures.

Rail services between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog were cancelled after a train hit a tree which had fallen across the line.

A Transport for Wales spokesman confirmed the 16:12 service from Llandudno on Tuesday collided with a fallen tree near Glan Conwy.

It is understood the train hit the tree and carried on some distance before coming to a halt but the carriages were not derailed and the driver and none of the 17 passengers or other staff were injured.

Network Rail staff were sent to remove the obstacle and the spokesman said the line would remain closed for the rest of the day.

Flooding between Swindon and Bristol Parkway led to a section of the line being closed, which reduced services between south Wales and London Paddington from half hourly to hourly.

"These services (running between London Paddington and Swansea) will divert, adding at least 25 minutes onto journey times," it said.

In Swansea, the Cwmbwrla roundabout was shut on Monday night and remained closed on Tuesday morning due to flooding, while the A477 Cleddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire was closed to high-sided vehicles.

Holyhead Port in Anglesey closed from 06:00 to 15:00 on Tuesday due to the storm "to ensure the safety of all operations".

The port closed terminal five on Friday after severe weather conditions caused a "berthing incident".

It would remain closed as severe weather conditions continued to prevent a full assessment of the berth structure, the spokesperson said.

The Met Office warned of gusts up to 40-50 mph (64-80 km/h) for most of the country, but that some areas along the coast could see 60-70 mph (96.5-112.6 km/h).

However, wind gusts of 85mph (133.5 km/h) have already been recorded in Capel Curig in Conwy County Borough and 83mph in Aberdaron in Gwynedd.

Storm Bram has been named by Met Eireann, which is Ireland's equivalent of the Met Office.