STORM Ciara unleashed its fury on Conwy as it battered the county with 90mph winds and torrential rain.

As the severe weather hit over the weekend Llanrwst streets, shops and homes were severely flooded and cars in the Co-Op carpark were submerged.

The Conwy Valley rail services were cancelled, as tracks disappeared underwater. Rivers and streams burst their banks, power outages were experienced across the region, tourist attractions cancelled, and an ancient bridge at Betws y Coed was washed away. Animals including horses and sheep were in danger as fields flooded.

An accusation has been levelled that flood damage in Llanrwst would not have been so extensive if culverts had been cleared.

Cllr Aaron Wynne, who represents Llanrwst on Conwy council said: “I think Conwy council should have cleared and monitored the culverts better and if that had been done I believe we would not have seen the level of damage we have suffered.”

“I now want to see a full review of the flooding by Conwy council and Natural Resources Wales and action taken to ensure this can never happen again.”

He added: “There are people who have suffered damage previously and couldn’t get insurance which adds a greater imperative for Conwy council to ensure this can never happen again.

Across the region North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it was inundated with 999 calls as the storm hit.

A police warning also went out to avoid Llandudno's Mostyn Champneys retail park on Sunday morning, when signs blew down. The area was described as "hazardous."

Llandudno's West Shore area was flooded on Sunday morning. The carpark beach café and a model railway were under inches of sea water.

A nearby sewage treatment building was at risk whilst the Welsh coastal path was unusable.

An anonymous resident on Facebook: "The council's plans for a sea defence wall at the Dale Road end of the shore are somewhat lacking with three options, do nothing, maintain and repair what's there or install a sea defence wall to continue from the promenade. Maybe the council need to take action now to keep the residents of Llandudno safe."

As the clean up began on Monday, a number of Conwy schools were closed, including Ysgol Creuddyn and Ysgol Eglwysbach. Conwy Valley rail services were still disrupted.