Welsh Water is working to fix a burst water main which has affected a large part of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion today.

The company tweeted that the burst main was affecting Whitland, Crymych, Cardigan, Newcastle Emlyn, Clynderwen, Newport and Boncath.

The main has burst at Llechryd Water Treatment Works.

The company said repairs are underway.

The main is unlikely to be repaired until this evening.

Pupils of Ysgol y Frenni, Crymych, have been sent home because of thr disruption to the water supply, Pembrokeshire County Council said.

Transport is being arranged for children who normally use school transport while the parents of other pupils are being contacted and asked to collect their children.

Ysgol y Preseli remains open.

UPDATE: 12.50pm: Statement from Welsh Water:

"We are working on repairing a burst on an important water main near Pontrhydyceirt. This main feeds from Llechryd water treatment works and helps us provide drinking water to many communities across parts of Cardiganshire and parts of Pembrokeshire.

"The repair has been hampered by significant engineering difficulties, but we are continuing to work around the clock to resolve these issues and restore supplies as safely and as quickly as possible.

"Whilst we have managed to maintain local water supply in some areas through tankering water into our network at various points , this burst is impacting on drinking water supplies to households in Cardigan, Newcastle Emlyn, Whitland, Crymych, Clynderwen, Boncath, Clynderwen, St Dogmaels and Newport.

"We have already contacted the customers affected and we are really sorry for the inconvenience.

"We believe that water supplies will begin returning to normal later this evening today.

"This may result in discoloured water for a period of time. This is not unusual after an incident of this nature and should clear within a short period of time. We would like to assure customers we are working as quickly as possible to restore supplies to normal."

UPDATE: 6.30pm

Crymych, Boncath, St Dogmaels, Tegryn, Moelgrove, and the Nevern areas are those affected by the burst water main, Welsh Water has said.

Bottled water was delivered to Crymych, and the water firm has been 'tankering' into its network at key points to keep the supply for some areas. It was said this afternooon that some affected water supplies would not be restored 'until very late tonight or possibly into tomorrow'. Welsh Water added: "Please accept our appologies for the inconvenience caused."