Homes ruined after flash floods hit Ottery St Mary

Heavy rainfall throughout the day has caused severe flooding in Ottery St Mary.

Three homes on Victoria Terrace are known to have suffered water damage.

Nub News spoke to Sophie Hudson and partner Josh Baker, who live on Victoria Terrace.

They said: "We're fuming. The water came up to 44 cm on our door and we have had to take everything upstairs.

"It came in through the back door and whole kitchen is now flooded and all our floors are being taken up.

"We had no real warning; we had the flood gates and sand bags out but the flood gates floated away.

One neighbour who would like to remain anonymous, said: "It got in through the front and back doors, despite having flood gates up.

"The gates held back the water flow sufficiently, so that we were able to bale the water out the house.

"Luckily we were both home from work."

Police have closed roads in the area (see red link below for more information) and travel has been disrupted by the level of surface water on the roads.

At least one car has been damaged as a result of driving through the flood water and was being moved by South West Highways.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways Management said: "A highways team investigated the flooding in the Mill Street/Victoria Terrace area and determined that a SWW drainage pipe is blocked.

"We erected signs asking drivers to slow right down as the water is affecting nearby properties."

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Localised closures due to the flooding at the following: Salston Corner; Exeter RD/Daisymount into Ottery; Mill street.

"SW Water, EA, fire and council all aware."