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| Torrential rain and flash flooding cause travel chaos | Torrential rain and flash flooding cause travel chaos |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Homes were evacuated and people left stranded in their cars as lightning, hail, heavy rain and flash flooding hit east and south-east England. | Homes were evacuated and people left stranded in their cars as lightning, hail, heavy rain and flash flooding hit east and south-east England. |
| The freak weather brought roads and railway services to a standstill in parts of Sussex, Essex and London. | The freak weather brought roads and railway services to a standstill in parts of Sussex, Essex and London. |
| More than half the average total rain for England in July fell in an hour in some areas, the Met Office said. | More than half the average total rain for England in July fell in an hour in some areas, the Met Office said. |
| London Fire Brigade said it had to help people trapped in their cars across the capital. | London Fire Brigade said it had to help people trapped in their cars across the capital. |
| Network Rail said most train services were returning to normal following earlier delays and cancellations caused by flooding and an electricity substation being struck by lightning. | Network Rail said most train services were returning to normal following earlier delays and cancellations caused by flooding and an electricity substation being struck by lightning. |
| However, services to Brighton are not stopping at Worthing because of flooding in the station subway. | However, services to Brighton are not stopping at Worthing because of flooding in the station subway. |
| In London, the Metropolitan Line is running with severe delays because of flooding. | In London, the Metropolitan Line is running with severe delays because of flooding. |
| Flights to and from Gatwick Airport were also delayed by the weather. | Flights to and from Gatwick Airport were also delayed by the weather. |
| The town of Great Dunmow in Essex was inundated by 43mm (1.7in) of rain within an hour, while residents in Isfield, Sussex, were hit with 37mm (1.5in) of rain. | The town of Great Dunmow in Essex was inundated by 43mm (1.7in) of rain within an hour, while residents in Isfield, Sussex, were hit with 37mm (1.5in) of rain. |
| A road in the village of Thaxted, Essex collapsed and several homes were left flooded. Five people in the village were taken to safety by fire crews. | A road in the village of Thaxted, Essex collapsed and several homes were left flooded. Five people in the village were taken to safety by fire crews. |
| In north-west London, two women had to be rescued from a car stranded in flash floods outside South Ruislip station. | In north-west London, two women had to be rescued from a car stranded in flash floods outside South Ruislip station. |
| London Fire Brigade said it had to deal with two stranded cars on Eastcote Road in Harrow. | London Fire Brigade said it had to deal with two stranded cars on Eastcote Road in Harrow. |
| At one stage six cars were stuck in floodwater in Uxbridge, west London, according to the AA's Special Operations Response Team. | At one stage six cars were stuck in floodwater in Uxbridge, west London, according to the AA's Special Operations Response Team. |
| Fifty properties were also flooded on Bedford Road in Ruislip. | Fifty properties were also flooded on Bedford Road in Ruislip. |
| Jamie Davis, 17, of Ickenham, west London said the downpours, with flashing lightning and loud thunderclaps, began at 09.00 BST and lasted for at least 45 minutes. | Jamie Davis, 17, of Ickenham, west London said the downpours, with flashing lightning and loud thunderclaps, began at 09.00 BST and lasted for at least 45 minutes. |
| "My back garden is completely flooded. The drains are bubbling up and we can't flush the toilet," he said. | "My back garden is completely flooded. The drains are bubbling up and we can't flush the toilet," he said. |
| In Sussex, Southern Water said torrential rain had caused sewers to be "overwhelmed by the sheer volume of water". | In Sussex, Southern Water said torrential rain had caused sewers to be "overwhelmed by the sheer volume of water". |
| East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service received about 300 calls within a few hours, while a further 60 calls were passed on to Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service as part of emergency resilience arrangements. | East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service received about 300 calls within a few hours, while a further 60 calls were passed on to Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service as part of emergency resilience arrangements. |
| It said its crews had dealt with a large number of weather-related emergency calls which had included flooding, lightning strikes "and false alarms caused by the weather". | It said its crews had dealt with a large number of weather-related emergency calls which had included flooding, lightning strikes "and false alarms caused by the weather". |
| Sussex residents said the storm there started at 05:30 BST with hailstorms particularly heavy in the region. | Sussex residents said the storm there started at 05:30 BST with hailstorms particularly heavy in the region. |
| Writing on Twitter, Laurence Hill said: "Used to be roads. Now rivers of hail. Never seen anything like it." | Writing on Twitter, Laurence Hill said: "Used to be roads. Now rivers of hail. Never seen anything like it." |
| Brighton and Hove Police posted: "Localised flooding in Hove and Portslade, some roads not passable. Please do not enter flood water on foot or in cars." | Brighton and Hove Police posted: "Localised flooding in Hove and Portslade, some roads not passable. Please do not enter flood water on foot or in cars." |
| PC Andy Huggett, of Sussex Police, said: "Heavy rain after a long warm spell invariably leads to slippery roads and drivers need to immediately adjust to the new conditions. | PC Andy Huggett, of Sussex Police, said: "Heavy rain after a long warm spell invariably leads to slippery roads and drivers need to immediately adjust to the new conditions. |
| "Along with the surface conditions, there are the added hazards of very heavy rain, flash flooding and poor visibility and it is essential that drivers make allowances." | "Along with the surface conditions, there are the added hazards of very heavy rain, flash flooding and poor visibility and it is essential that drivers make allowances." |
| Brighton and Hove City Council said essential services had been maintained across the city, and drains were starting to carry away the water now the rain had subsided. | Brighton and Hove City Council said essential services had been maintained across the city, and drains were starting to carry away the water now the rain had subsided. |
| "City Clean are working with East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to clear roadside gullies. | "City Clean are working with East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to clear roadside gullies. |
| "The refuse and recycling service is operating normally but might be a bit slower due to the weather," a spokesman said. | "The refuse and recycling service is operating normally but might be a bit slower due to the weather," a spokesman said. |
| The council said its offices in Kings House had been closed due to flooding in the basement which was threatening some of the main electrical panels. | The council said its offices in Kings House had been closed due to flooding in the basement which was threatening some of the main electrical panels. |
| It said staff had relocated to other buildings, and there would be some disruption to services. | It said staff had relocated to other buildings, and there would be some disruption to services. |