"The rain hit just after Christmas, around 27 or 28 December, when I was back at work.

"We started to get messages about rivers flooding and the managers said we should go home while we could.

"I lived in Cwmfelinfach, and had word that the road was impassable. We eventually worked out a route through Machen and Bedwas and a series of farm lanes and set off along with some colleagues.

"Once we'd passed Bedwas, we came across a landslide - it was about one foot deep and ran right across the lane.

"I stopped, as did the cars coming the other way, and just as we were working out how to get across it, a lady came running down the mountainside saying that the landslide had uncovered a two-foot water main.

"As this was no longer being supported by all that earth, it could break at any time.

"We were desperate to get away from there and managed to drive across the landslide to get home safely - but it was a very scary moment, thinking what could happen if that water main had gone.

"The upside of it all was that the office closed for two days, giving me an unexpected extra time with my future wife, which helped us to get to know each other better before we married the following May.

"We'll be having our 24th anniversary this year! So it was a blessing in disguise really."