Nearly 150 people were rescued from the flood hit areas of west Wales on Saturday.

Fire crews, coastguard lifeboats and Royal Air Force helicopters were part of the large scale rescue operations in which holiday makers and residents were helped to safety.

A number of people were rescued from the Riverside Caravan Park in Llandre, near Aberystwyth, Mill House Caravan Park at Dol-y-bont, also in Llandre and Sea Rivers caravan park, Ynyslas.

Water levels went up to 5ft (1.5m) in the villages of Ceredigion.

Areas such as Talybont, Dol-y-bont, Llandre, and Penrhyncoch - all in Ceredigion were worst affected and people were moved to safety from these regions in the early hours of Saturday.

Upto five inches (12cm) of rain were recorded in the area in 24 hours, said the Environment Agency.

On Saturday morning, Royal Air Force Sea King helicopters crew airlifted three people from Riverside Caravan Park in Llandre.

"This has been a very impressive operation in horrific weather conditions and with unprecedented flood levels," the BBC quoted Cheryl Gillan, Secretary of State for Wales, as saying.

"Those involved in the rescue mission at the caravan parks in Llandre have acted quickly and with courage,"Gilan added.

A life boat team had to be airlifted to safety when they got into trouble in the rising water while helping a disabled man into safety from a flooded caravan.

Meanwhile, authorities have started the clean-up operations in mid-Wales as the water in some areas started to recede.

"The tide has peaked and the weather seems to be lightening," the BBC quoted Andy Francis from Mid and West Wales Fire Service as saying.

"The worst should be over. But we will be monitoring the situation," Francis added.

The Environment Agency Wales (EWA) issued a number of flood warnings in their website and advised people to avoid swollen rivers.

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