STUDENTS evacuated from seafront accommodation last night were treated to a meal at Penbryn by the University.

Following advice from Natural Resources Wales and Ceredigion council, the university invited all students living on the seafront to Penbryn while Storm Imogen passed.

A free bus service collected the 220 students at 6pm to take them to the safety of campus ahead of the high tide at 8pm.

The halls were reopened at 8:45pm.

During the day, gusts up to 56mph, combined with a spring tide, caused huge waves to come crashing down on the promenade early on Monday morning in scenes reminiscent of the January 2014 floods which left Aberystwyth’s ‘jewel in the crown’ in ruins, and authorities facing a six-figure repair bill to fix it.

The whole stretch of the promenade from Constitution Hill to the pier was closed yesterday and guarded by police officers amid safety fears.

Cars parked on the promenade over-night were left abandoned, while one flagpole was broken and toppled by the gale-force winds.

Paving slabs were ripped up by the wind and waves, while benches - repaired during the storm of 2014 - were also torn from their bases.

Materials and supplies for the delayed construction of the promenade’s new £1.2m bandstand were also left strewn across the promenade by the storm.

Police said the road was closed early on Monday but “unfortunately the public have been ignoring the closed signs, and placing themselves in danger.”

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