THE actions of a group of bathers who took a dip in waters off Poppit Sands at the height of Tropical Storm Ophelia on Monday morning were denounced as “madness” by a RNLI spokesman.

Coastguards said the alarm was raised by walkers near the beach at 11.18am who reported the group in the water as 75mph winds lashed Cardigan Bay.

Although Cardigan RNLI lifeboat station was alerted the group – thought to comprise of a couple and four children – managed to make their way to safety before it could be launched.

“Conditions in the sea and even on the beach itself were horrendous and while this group were well-equipped, to even think of going out in this was just madness,” said a RNLI spokesman. “Apparently the lady had got into trouble but the man got her out in the nick of time.

“The lifeboat did not need to launch, but it could have been so much worse.”

Cardigan town centre was cordoned off by police following reports of slate tiles being blown off the roofs of houses and offices when winds were at their fiercest.

A number of schools in the south of the county, including Ysgol T Llew Jones, Brynhoffnant and Aberporth and Penparc primaries, closed early as a precaution, with parents collecting children in the afternoon.

Around 200 householders found themselves without power at Cilgerran.