HEAVY rain and flooding has closed roads across Brecon and Radnorshire with Storm Dennis having lashed the country.

Crickhowell High School has opened today for all local residents and members of the community if they need to shelter from the flooding. Refreshments are available and staff on hand to help. Anyone wishing to attend can go to the community sports centre entrance. The school had cancelled rehearsals for its school play with roads to the area closed.There is also flooding in Builth Wells and Llanelwedd where the Wye has burst its banks with flooding is also reported in Knighton.Photographs showing the flooding that has closed the A483 and the petrol stations and shops at Llanelwedd were sent in by Richard Walters.

Dyfed-Powys Police has asked people to travel only if necessary and said numerous road closures are in places due to landslides, flooding and fallen trees.Powys County Council is asking people to stay indoors ndoors as it deals with the impact from Storm Dennis.A spokesman for Powys County Council said: “Storm Dennis has had a major impact in the county with roads impassable due to flooding and some towns and villages being cut of due to flood water.“Our staff are working extremely hard to deal with the impact. However, we would urge residents to remain indoors and do not travel unless it is vital.”

The A40 Brecon bypass has been closed in both directions since the early hours of this morning and is expected to remain closed until around 3.30pm.

There are also red flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected and immediate action required, on the river Wye at Disserth, Builth Wells and Glasbury and on the Usk at Brecon and downstream at Crickhowell and Glangrwyeny.

The Usk has burst its banks and flooded the bridge between the Crickhowell and Llangattock and submerged the A4077 with properties also flooded.

All other areas are subject to amber flood warnings with people warned flooding is possible and to be prepared.

The A470 has also been closed in both directions between Builth Wells and Erwood with the road expected to remain closed until 7am on Monday, February 17.

The A483 in Builth Wells is also closed and isn’t expected to re-open until 7.25 on Monday morning.

The A479 at Pengenfordd, near Talgarth, is closed due to a landslide. The A40 is also closed from Abergavenny to Glangwryney with the road not expected to reopen until 5.20 this evening.

Flooding has also been reported on seven local roads.

Natural Resources Wales said the Wye was at five metres at Builth but falling while the Usk reached 2.4 metres at Trallong with the level also falling but it has been unable to register its height at the Promenade in Brecon where the river has burst its banks.

The Met Office said 142mm of rain fell at the Crai Reservoir from Saturday through to Sunday morning.

Llandrindod Fire Station thanked staff from the town's Gregg's bakery for supplying staff with hot food as they've dealth with numerous incidents around mid Powys.Powys County Council has said it is waiting on further information on disruption to bus services for both today and Monday.Dyfed-Powys Police and and Powys council staff dealt with several fallen trees blocking roads on Saturday.