This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/devon/7699112.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Hailstorm sparks 'absolute chaos' | Hailstorm sparks 'absolute chaos' |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| East Devon and parts of Cornwall have been hit by serious flooding after a night of storms, including severe rain and heavy hail. | East Devon and parts of Cornwall have been hit by serious flooding after a night of storms, including severe rain and heavy hail. |
| Devon and Somerset fire service described the situation in the Ottery St Mary area as "absolute chaos". | Devon and Somerset fire service described the situation in the Ottery St Mary area as "absolute chaos". |
| Police said that a pregnant woman, who had gone into labour, had to be rescued from a car and about 25 people have been rescued from their homes. | |
| An evacuation centre has been set up at the hospital in Ottery St Mary. | An evacuation centre has been set up at the hospital in Ottery St Mary. |
| It got worse and worse and one crew got stuck in a 6ft drift Susanne Reed, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service | It got worse and worse and one crew got stuck in a 6ft drift Susanne Reed, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service |
| A police spokesman said: "There have been a series of weather-related road collisions. | A police spokesman said: "There have been a series of weather-related road collisions. |
| "This included a road accident near Honiton with a female giving birth who had to be transported by ambulance to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital." | "This included a road accident near Honiton with a female giving birth who had to be transported by ambulance to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital." |
| He said "many" vehicles, including a 38ft-long (11.6m) lorry, had been trapped in flood water. | He said "many" vehicles, including a 38ft-long (11.6m) lorry, had been trapped in flood water. |
| Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said 25 people had been rescued from flooded homes in Ottery St Mary and Feniton. | Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said 25 people had been rescued from flooded homes in Ottery St Mary and Feniton. |
| Susanne Reed, from the fire control centre, said it was the worst flooding she had seen in 25 years. | Susanne Reed, from the fire control centre, said it was the worst flooding she had seen in 25 years. |
| "It has been absolute chaos, it started just after midnight when we were out rescuing people stuck in their cars in flood water. | "It has been absolute chaos, it started just after midnight when we were out rescuing people stuck in their cars in flood water. |
| The hailstorm was so dense it caused snow-like drifts | |
| "It got worse and worse and one crew got stuck in a 6ft (1.8m) [hail] drift," she said. | "It got worse and worse and one crew got stuck in a 6ft (1.8m) [hail] drift," she said. |
| She added that crews had been rescuing people "constantly" and she could not begin to say how many had been helped to safety. | She added that crews had been rescuing people "constantly" and she could not begin to say how many had been helped to safety. |
| A spokeswoman for Portland Coastguard said coastguard volunteers had rescued a family of three who were trapped in a bungalow, using their four-wheel drive vehicles. | A spokeswoman for Portland Coastguard said coastguard volunteers had rescued a family of three who were trapped in a bungalow, using their four-wheel drive vehicles. |
| She said they also rescued several elderly people from a housing estate. | She said they also rescued several elderly people from a housing estate. |
| They have been taken to the hospital in Ottery St Mary. | They have been taken to the hospital in Ottery St Mary. |
| One resident who spoke to BBC News from her home just outside Ottery St Mary said: "There is 2ft 6ins (0.75m) of water on the road. I can't get out of the house." | One resident who spoke to BBC News from her home just outside Ottery St Mary said: "There is 2ft 6ins (0.75m) of water on the road. I can't get out of the house." |
| John and Joan Burrows, who farm nearby, have lost about 30 sheep. Joan said: "Others are sheltering on the old railway line and we're hoping they don't try and jump in the water." | |
| Tony Fabry, who runs the town's post office, said: "At one point I was watching beer barrels, sandwich boards and even a children's slide floating down the road. | Tony Fabry, who runs the town's post office, said: "At one point I was watching beer barrels, sandwich boards and even a children's slide floating down the road. |
| "It was absolutely horrendous." | "It was absolutely horrendous." |
| The town had been preparing for its bonfire night celebrations | |
| The town had been preparing for a carnival this weekend, ahead of its annual Tar Barrel Rolling festival on 5 November. | The town had been preparing for a carnival this weekend, ahead of its annual Tar Barrel Rolling festival on 5 November. |
| Devon and Cornwall police warned motorists that roads in the area were "treacherous" and a number of routes had been closed because of flooding or ice. | Devon and Cornwall police warned motorists that roads in the area were "treacherous" and a number of routes had been closed because of flooding or ice. |
| In Boscastle in Cornwall six premises were flooded overnight because of a blocked storm drain. | In Boscastle in Cornwall six premises were flooded overnight because of a blocked storm drain. |
| Heavy rainfall has also led to problems with surface water on Cornwall's roads. | Heavy rainfall has also led to problems with surface water on Cornwall's roads. |
| The Environment Agency has flood warnings in place on the Rivers Otter, Axe, Clyst, Coly, Culm, Isle and Yarty in Devon. | The Environment Agency has flood warnings in place on the Rivers Otter, Axe, Clyst, Coly, Culm, Isle and Yarty in Devon. |
| Have you been affected by the floods? What is the situation where you live? Send us your story using the form below. | Have you been affected by the floods? What is the situation where you live? Send us your story using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| You can also send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here. | You can also send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |