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Clean-up in wake of flash floods Clean-up in wake of flash floods
(10 minutes later)
A clean-up operation is under way after torrential rain caused flash flooding across south-west England.A clean-up operation is under way after torrential rain caused flash flooding across south-west England.
Firefighters evacuated homes in the worst hit areas of south Somerset after a sudden and heavy burst of rain on Thursday evening.Firefighters evacuated homes in the worst hit areas of south Somerset after a sudden and heavy burst of rain on Thursday evening.
Devon and Somerset fire service said Crewkerne, Ilminster, Shepton Mallet and Wells were most severely affected,Devon and Somerset fire service said Crewkerne, Ilminster, Shepton Mallet and Wells were most severely affected,
Four people were rescued when their car became stuck in a flood at Langford Bridge near Honiton, in Devon.Four people were rescued when their car became stuck in a flood at Langford Bridge near Honiton, in Devon.
By late Thursday night, the flooding was beginning to subside almost as soon as it had begun, but hundreds of homes have been flood-damaged.By late Thursday night, the flooding was beginning to subside almost as soon as it had begun, but hundreds of homes have been flood-damaged.
At the storm's peak, the fire brigade was taking calls "every few seconds" from worried residents, with more than 350 emergency calls received in two and a half hours.At the storm's peak, the fire brigade was taking calls "every few seconds" from worried residents, with more than 350 emergency calls received in two and a half hours.
Spokesman Andy Newland said the flood happened in different circumstances to the deluges that wreaked havoc across parts of north, south and central England last summer.Spokesman Andy Newland said the flood happened in different circumstances to the deluges that wreaked havoc across parts of north, south and central England last summer.
The fire service received more than 350 calls from across Somerset Advertisement
Scenes of serious flooding after heavy rainfall in Somerset
He said: "It was a typical flash flood gone almost as soon as quickly as it came. It has quietened down considerably overnight.He said: "It was a typical flash flood gone almost as soon as quickly as it came. It has quietened down considerably overnight.
"It's very different from what happened in Gloucestershire because that built up for many days."It's very different from what happened in Gloucestershire because that built up for many days.
"This was literally that a tremendous amount of water came down with very little warning and the surface water drainage couldn't handle it.""This was literally that a tremendous amount of water came down with very little warning and the surface water drainage couldn't handle it."
Many people attending the annual Bath and West show in Shepton Mallet were stranded as they tried to leave the flood-hit showground.Many people attending the annual Bath and West show in Shepton Mallet were stranded as they tried to leave the flood-hit showground.
Dan Mountain, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We had about seven cars stuck in water leaving the showground.Dan Mountain, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We had about seven cars stuck in water leaving the showground.
"We considered bringing in the RAF helicopter but it was not required and it was stood down.""We considered bringing in the RAF helicopter but it was not required and it was stood down."
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People leaving the Bath and West showground in heavy rain