Enviornmental officials say the risk of flooding has been reduced as various locations in North West Wales after enforcement action was taken on illegal works.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) targeted landowners who have carried out work without a necessary permit at several sites across the region.

Remediation notices can be issued by NRW - along with advice on preventing pollution - to reverse the impact of unpermitted work which may have an harmful effect on the environment.

Warning letters and advice & guidance are also deployed to limit the potential for detrimental impact.

In one recent case, an earth bund was built at Efailnewydd on the Llŷn Peninsula, within the floodplain of the Afon Rhyd-hir, which could have led to an increased risk of flooding for nearby properties and infrastructure.

NRW officials visited the landowners, who explained they placed leftover material an a 1.5 metre high bund for around 150m along the rivers.

It was explained that the bund would prevent water accessing the floodplain and exacerbate erosion problems by containing water within the channel.

A remediation notice was issued and the landowners created gaps in the bund to ensure flood waters could still connect to the floodplain and reduce any potential increase in flood risk to neighboring land and properties.

In another case, a stop notice was issued to a landowner in Llanderfel, who repeatedly imported material on the floodplain and stored it in a manner that could re-direct flood waters. The material has since been removed.

Keith Ivens, NRW's operations manager for flood and water management, said: "Effective flood risk management is crucial for reducing flood risk for our communities and the environment."

"The activities undertaken by the landowners in these cases were completed without the necessary permits. The range of enforcement action used demonstrates our commitment to ensuring compliance with flood risk regulations and safeguarding our natural resources."

“By addressing unpermitted flood risk activities, we can help reduce future flood risk and enhance the region’s ability to adapt and mitigate against future climate impacts. This is vital for ensuring the long-term health of our waterways and the security of our flood defences.”