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Fire crews had to rescue people from flood water last night after torrential rain across Wales.

Six people were rescued after their minibus got stuck in flood water near Bridgend after more rain fell on the first day of August than in the whole of July.

Emergency services received the first 999 call from the scene at Dipping Bridge in Merthyr Mawr just before 4am.

Watch Manager Chris Jones said a people carrier on the way to the airport had become stuck in flood water on the Dipping Bridge in Merthyr Mawr.

"There were five people inside. Two of them were children," he said.

"The engine had cut out and they were still in the car when we arrived.

"We used an inflatable walkway and a wading team to get people out. The walkway was mostly used to remove their luggage. The two children and a female adult were carried to safety."

He added: "Drivers shouldn't drive into flood water as you cannot know how deep it is and your engine could cut out even if it's not that deep. And if there's any flow in the water and the vehicle is side on, it can be pushed or turned."

In a separate incident four people were led to safety by Bridgend crews after becoming stranded on the roof of their car after it got stuck in flood water in Laleston just after midnight.

Watch Manager Jones said the engine had cut out in flood water.

The three men and one woman inside the small hatchback then climbed out of the car and sat on the roof until help arrived.

Watch Manager Jones said the water was a few feet high and firefighters were able to help the stranded group wade to safety.

Around the same time a man had to be rescued from fast flowing water after his car was stranded on Marlas Road Lane, North Cornelly.

The road remained closed this morning because of flooding.

Wales was hit by torrential rain on the first day of August. Around 48mm of rain was recorded in Swansea, the highest recorded so far this year for a 24 hour period.

Fire crews also had to deal with flooded properties in Cardiff, Tonypandy, Penarth, Llanelli and Clydach and there were five flood alerts in force on Tuesday morning.

Trees also came down on the southbound carriageway of the A4232 at Leckwith and the B4242 at Aberdulais was closed on Tuesday morning because of a fallen tree.

More rain is forecast for today, but it is going to be lighter and there will be sunny intervals, mainly in the east.

The good news is that it is looking better by the end of the weekend and the weekend.