BOSCASTLE FLOODS INCIDENT

Fflam a border Collie and Sam a Springer Spaniel have been flown by helicopter to join the search at Boscastle in the north of the county. They form part of a team of 10 fire service rescue dogs on duty. Up to 15 people are still unaccounted for following flash flooding and torrential rain on Monday.

Sam, based in Carmarthen, and Fflam, from Pontardawe, boarded an RAF air sea rescue helicopter at 0930BST on Tuesday. The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service was asked for assistance just hours earlier.  

 A spokeswoman for the service said: "This is Sam and Fflam's first official job, although they were put on alert following an explosion in Glasgow earlier this year.

"The dogs have been accompanied by their handlers, Arwel Hughes, from Cross Hands, who looks after Flam, and Alex Baum, from Carmarthen, who looks after Sam."

Police divers and a body recovery team are helping search cars swept away when a wall of water hit Boscastle.  A massive clean-up operation is also under way in the village, littered with upturned trees and crumbling walls.                                                                                                                         

Further details of these dogs and handlers can be found at the locations page of this web site.

A selection of news reports and photographs from the Cornwall flood incident: