A freak storm has brought a Welsh town to a standstill this afternoon, with four-feet of water leaving homes and businesses flooded and hundreds of staff "marooned" in their offices.

Firefighters from four fire tenders are currently pumping out flood water from a cloudburst which blocked culverts and flooded the centre of Newtown in Powys.

Main roads in the town centre near the traffic lights are currently blocked, leading to long tailbacks either side of the town, in the direction of Welshpool and Aberystyth.

Owain Betts, marketing communications manager at Finance Wales plc, one of the businesses affected in St David's House, Newtown, said: "A thunderstorm passed directly over the town at about 2pm along with heavy rain and a freak hailstorm.

"It lasted a good 40 minutes or so and the drains couldn't cope with the freak storm water.

"We could see the water rising through the office window.

"The whole of New Road and Park Street was affected at one stage, with the water also passing through the Ladywell House car park, converging at a low point where it must have risen to at least four-feet-high, if not more.

"It brought this part of the town centre to a virtual standstill.

"We're still unable to get our vehicles out of the car park.

"It has affected a number of households and business properties in the town too."