HEATWAVE STOPS COMPETITION AND

TRAINS, HALTS HITS TRAFFIC

- ELLIE GOSLEY, ANDREW FORGRAVE AND LOIS MCCARTHY

SOARING temperatures yesterday saw train services stopped, a mountain running competition abandoned and traffic chaos on the roads.

But those who did make it to their destination could be seen enjoying the heatwave on beaches and other locations around Wales.

Rail passengers were yesterday advised not to travel due to a defect on the line in Abercynon in South Wales, which stopped all services between Pontypridd, Merthyr and Aberdare.

It comes on the hottest weekend of the year so far as thousands of fans tried to cram into Cardiff city centre to see Stereophonics play their final live show of their Stadium Anthems tour last night, having already played in the city on Friday night.

For those travelling on the M4 in South Wales there were tailbacks following two crashes. The first happened between junction 30 Cardiff Gate and 32 Coryton, with two lanes blocked.

A second crash on the westbound carriageway also closed two lanes near junction 29. The delays were back to junction 27.

And roads in North Wales were also congested as holidaymakers took advantage of the fine weather.

Tailbacks formed on traditional pinch points like the A55 Britannia Bridge. But there are also queues at Bala, Gwynedd, as daytrippers headed to Llyn Tegid to cool off.

On the railways, Transport for Wales (TfW) said it was unable to run any services on the line in Abercynon for "safety reasons" due to the track defect yesterday.

The disruption was expected to continue for the rest of the day and passengers are being advised to check before they travel today.