More than 40 people had to be rescued from homes and caravans after serious floods hit west Wales.

Holidaymakers and residents were helped to safety in a large-scale rescue operation mounted by fire crews, coastguard lifeboats and military helicopters when water swept through caravan parks and villages near Aberystwyth.

Three people were airlifted by Royal Air Force Sea King helicopters from the Riverside Caravan Park in Llandre and dozens took shelter in a community centre in Talybont.

Chief Inspector Robin Mason, of Dyfed Powys Police, said it was difficult to give an exact number of those rescued, but said he was “aware of about 30 to 40 people evacuated from various places” and there were “probably more”.

He told the BBC: “When caravan parks have about two feet of water, people have been able to make their own way in an orderly manner. Since dawn, a lot of people have decided to leave by their own accord.”

He said some people were trapped in buildings, but added: “However, they are upstairs. We have emergency rescue teams in the area with inflatables and we are in the process of evacuating people.”

Fire service rescue boats and vehicles joined inshore lifeboats to help stranded people escape from the Riverside Caravan Park. A Mid- and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said emergency services were called at around 3 a.m. and there was “a large amount of water and a heavy current running through the caravan park”.

Nearby Mill House Caravan Park at Dol-y-Bont was also flooded, and around a dozen people needed rescuing.

Pat Edwards, 56, whose partner runs Mill House Caravan Park, said they had not seen flooding like it in 50 years.