AROUND 50 people in Monmouth, many of them elderly, will spend the night at local hotels after they were evacuated from their homes because of flood risk.
Earlier today, the emergency services urged people living at the Riverside Residential Park, on the banks of the Wye, to leave their homes as the river level rose perilously close to their properties.
River levels have risen after prolonged heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday, and in Monmouth a large amount of debris, including whole tree trunks, has partially blocked the bridge arches just 100 metres downstream from the residential park.
The evacuees were taken to the town's Shire Hall, where they were given food and hot drinks and looked after by local authority staff.
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Paul Mason, group manager at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said water levels had risen throughout the day (Monday) and were expected to peak at 7pm.
The Natural Resources Wales-led evacuation was a precautionary measure, he said, but would "turn into a rescue if it gets any worse".
"We're trying to give individuals guidance to stay safe," he added.
(Emergency Services attending flooded areas in Monmouth.)
There are around 35 properties at the park, with 50-70 residents affected. Mr Mason said none of them had been taken to hospital.
But 16 of them, he said, had refused to leave.
One of them, a Mr Sayse, has lived at the park for 20 years.
He said it was the third time flooding had threatened his home, but floodwater had never made it inside his house.
(Mr Sayse is refusing to leave his home despite the flooding.)
"I'm worried about all the rubbish at the bridge, holding [the water] back like a dam," he said. "I'm waiting to see what happens -- if it comes up to [my house], I'll be away."
At the Shire Hall, county councillor Laura Jones said NRW and the emergency services were "all ready to go in case the worst happens" this evening and the river water pours into the residential park.
The evacuees had brought suitcases with them to the Shire Hall, she said, and had been rehoused. Meals on Wheels had provided everyone with meals, and everyone was "in good spirits".
"I'm very impressed with what I've seen," Cllr Jones said of the evacuation. "The residents are all happy, which is my main concern."
NRW said although they do not expect river levels to rise, they will be providing further overnight accomodation for residents.
A spokesman said: "The multi-agency team, that includes Gwent Police, the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Monmouthshire Council, have decided to provide overnight accommodation for those people who have been evacuated from Riverside Residential Park to keep them warm, safe and well as the site is flooded.
"Although river levels will be staying quite high, Natural Resources Wales do not expect it to rise further.
"The multi-agency team would not want to put people at unnecessary risk, especially as it is now dark.
"They also strongly advise anyone who is still staying at the Riverside Residential Park to listen to the advice of the emergency services.
"A police officer will stay on site throughout the night to advise anyone trying to return to stay away and consider returning in the morning.
"River levels will drop in time but, due the nature of the River Wye, this will be a slow process which will take time."
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