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A man who says his family’s heritage was wiped out by the flooding of Capel Celyn has spoken of his pride at Wales’ response to mural vandals.

People from across the country have shown solidarity after the second attack on the Cofiwch Dryweryn memorial, which commemorates the drowning of the Gwynedd village to provide water for the city of Liverpool.

Parts of the wall in Llanrhystud, Ceredigion were reduced to rubble by vandals, just days after the wall was repainted following an earlier attack.

Volunteers are now working to repair the original wall, but people across the country have shown their support by painting their own versions of the mural in their hometowns.

Since news of the damage broke, a number of new replica Cofiwch Dryweryn tributes have appeared on walls in all corners of Wales.

(Image: Daily Post Wales)

Elwyn Edwards, who was raised in the Gwynedd village, was moved to thank the volunteers.

Mr Edwards, who lives in Llandderfel near Bala and represents the ward on Gwynedd Council, said: “These youngsters’ actions are an inspiration to us all, to each and every person, be they Welsh or not, to uphold this historic Welsh legacy in Ceredigion.

"It is a national symbol, an insight to our past and a reminder of our future, a future where Wales can become an independent nation and govern independently, ensuring that no other community or valley in Wales is ever lost again."

Mr Edwards, who can remember taking part in the protest in Merseyside at the age of 13, says his family lost everything during the drowning.

His mother’s family had lived there for centuries and he recalls fishing and playing with cousins on the farm.

He said: "The drowning of Capel Celyn had a profound effect on me, and many others. This generation of young people have no recollection of the act itself, but as Welsh people we have a deep affinity to the effect this action had on our nation.

"There was nothing left in the valley – not a tree, a hedge, no sheep, cattle, or birds singing. It was deathly quiet, like a funeral. The stones from the houses, the farms, the school and the shop were all carried to build the dam.

"I remember the water shifting over the overflow after the dam was built and the spray shooting up about 100 foot into the sky.

"My family and the other families were rehoused, but they were scattered all over the place. We lost our heritage; we lost everything.

"The symbolic act of the late Meic Stephens to paint that message ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ in Llanrhystud is now gathering apace throughout Wales.

(Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

"We are seeing a resurgence of interest, people with interest in the nation’s story, people wanting to make their voices heard.

"Rebuilding the wall and painting it again by these patriots who came together from many parts of Wales, is a catalyst for others to introduce the story that has scarred Wales.

"Thank you to each and every person who has taken the opportunity to remind Wales that another Tryweryn should never be allowed to happen again."

A dozen homes in Capel Celyn, together with the village school and its chapel, were lost when the dam was completed in 1965.

Parliament approved Liverpool Corporation’s plan, despite the opposition of all but one of the 36 Welsh MPs.

(Image: Daily Post)

Creating Llyn Celyn to provide water for Liverpool was seen as the best way to ensure the city would not run out of clean drinking water as demand on its existing main source at Lake Vyrnwy became crippling.

On the 40th anniversary of the opening of the reservoir in 2005 Liverpool Council apologised to the Welsh people for destroying the village and flooding the valley.