A community has been left devastated after an early Easter holiday for a family of five turned into a horrific tragedy when a car plunged into a Mid Wales reservoir.

A woman at the wheel of the Peugeot 807 survived the incident, which claimed the lives of her husband, mother and two foster children. Police are today working to piece together the circumstances of the accident.

They are looking at the moments before the accident between the Peugeot and a Ford Mondeo yesterday afternoon at the Bwlch y Gle Dam, Clywedog, near Llanidloes.

The family were believed to have been holidaying in Machynlleth after travelling from their home in Pontypridd, near Cardiff.

Emergency services were called to the scene at about 2.30pm yesterday.

A rescue crew on board a Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley, based in Anglesey, was also sent.

The Peugeot was recovered from the water last night by a specialist team and taken away.

The Ford was travelling in the same direction on the road which skirts the reservoir, when the accident occurred and the Peugeot ploughed through a small wire fence and over a 20ft bank into 30ft of water.

An RAF spokesman said: “We were called to reports that a car had gone into the water with five people inside.”

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said two fire crews and two boats were involved in the rescue operation.

Powys County Councillor, Gareth Morgan, today described the incident as a dreadful tragedy.

“The local community is very distressed by what has happened,” he said. “Our hearts go out to the relatives of those who died. A family has been torn apart by what has happened.”

Councillor David Jones, the deputy mayor of Llanidloes, said the community had been left completely devastated.

He said: “My thoughts go out to the family at this very difficult time. It’s a tragedy and one that has deeply shocked the community.”

Police investigating the incident are appealing for anyone who may have seen either of the cars before the accident to contact them.

People living in Wales can call on 101, and people living anywhere else should call the investigation team on 0845 330 2000.

By Anwen Evans