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Torrential rain and flash flooding cause travel chaos Torrential rain and flash flooding cause travel chaos
(about 2 hours later)
Lightning strikes, hail, torrential rain and flash flooding have caused major travel problems across 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.
There have been problems on the roads in Sussex, Essex and London. The freak weather brought roads and railway services to a standstill in parts of Sussex, Essex and London.
London Fire Brigade said it was helping people trapped in their cars across parts of the capital. More than half the average total rain for England in July fell in an hour in some areas, the Met Office said.
Southern Water said "torrential rain fell across Sussex" leading to some sewers becoming "overwhelmed by the sheer volume of water". London Fire Brigade said it had to help people trapped in their cars across the capital.
Electrical supply problems caused by a lightning strike had led to disruption on Southern railways, although a Network Rail spokesman said services were returning to normal, subject to some residual delays. 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.
Southern said it was running normal services in the region, apart from trains to Brighton which 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.
The lightning hit an electricity sub-station, causing power to the coastal rail route to be cut, although the main line to London was running normally, according to a Network Rail spokeswoman. In London, the Metropolitan Line is running with severe delays because of flooding.
In Essex, a road in the village of Thaxted collapsed and several homes were left flooded as a result of the heavy rain. Flights to and from Gatwick Airport were also delayed by the weather.
Five people in the village were taken to safety by fire crews and the boiler house at the village primary school in Bardfield Road was flooded. The town of Great Dunmow in Suffolk 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 A40 Western Avenue in Uxbridge has also been closed because of flooding, according to BBC Travel. In Essex, a road in the village of Thaxted 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 was also dealing 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 the AA's Special Operations Response Team said six cars were stuck in floodwater in Uxbridge, West London. At one stage the AA's Special Operations Response Team said six cars were stuck in floodwater in Uxbridge, west London.
Fifty properties have been flooded on Bedford Road in Ruislip, while Tube services have been affected, with no service currently on the Metropolitan Line between Ruislip and Rayners Lane. Fifty properties were also flooded on Bedford Road in Ruislip.
Jamie Davis, 17, of Ickenham, west London said the downpours, with flashing lightning and strong sounds of thunder, 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".
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".
Sussex residents said the storm there started at 05.30.Sussex residents said the storm there started at 05.30.
Writing on Twitter Laurence Hill wrote: "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."
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it had received around 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 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.
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".
Brighton and Hove City Council said essential services were being maintained across the city, and drains would start to carry away the water once the rain 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 were currently 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 were relocating 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.
Are you in Sussex, Essex or London? How have you been affected by the bad weather? How are you dealing with the flooding? Please share your experiences, photos and videos, including contact details by contacting yourpics@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @bbc_haveyoursayAre you in Sussex, Essex or London? How have you been affected by the bad weather? How are you dealing with the flooding? Please share your experiences, photos and videos, including contact details by contacting yourpics@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @bbc_haveyoursay
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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