Pictures show 'frightening' wildfires at Welsh beauty spot

Wildfires frightening livestock at beauty spot40 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLeigh BoobyerBBC WalesRuth Rees PhotographyFire crews have been tackling wildfires since SundayFirefighters have entered their fourth day tackling wildfires spreading across a mid-Wales beauty spot. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews have been responding to the fires in and around the Elan Valley area, in Powys, since Sunday.A helicopter has been deployed to drop water on high risk areas, and National Trust Cymru confirmed Hafod Estate has been closed to the public as a precaution until further notice.Firefighters are currently responding to the fires near Claerwen Reservoir and Teifi Pools, and have urged people not to visit the area.Glyndwr Jones, a shepherd who lives at Claerwen Dam, described the fire as "quite frightening". Elan Valley is home to 70 sq miles (181 sq km) of land consisting of dams, reservoirs and rugged landscapes. It is home to four dams - Craig Goch, Garreg Ddu, Pen y Garreg and Caban Coch - which were built more than 120 years ago to supply clean water to Birmingham, then later to mid and south Wales.MWWFRS RhayaderLocal residents have been urged to close their windows and doors if there is thick smokeThe fire service have asked local residents to keep their windows and doors closed if there is thick smoke.Meanwhile, South West Fire and Rescue Service said a wildfire was being tackled on Cowbridge Common, Vale of Glamorgan, on Wednesday.Jones, who has been a shepherd for the Elan Valley Trust for 26 years, said the fire had created uncertainty and he will not know the financial impact until it has been put out. "As a shepherd, I think about the stock," he said, adding that he was concerned about lambs that had been on the hills "all winter"."It's a big, big area. Big farms up this area. What are we talking, between 10,000 and 12,000 acres - could be more even, but it's a job to say,&quo...