Clean-up operation under way after Devon flash floods

A clean-up operation is under way after torrential rain flooded homes, roads and businesses in Devon.

Roads were submerged and fire crews had to help people to safety in Kenton near Exeter on Sunday.

In Somerset, Butlin's resort in Minehead has been closed due to flood damage.

Yellow rain warnings are in place for parts of north-west England and Wales for Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Sunday, Exeter Airport was forced to close when the terminal flooded. The airport has since reopened.

Exeter was one of the wettest places in the country on Sunday with 63.8mm of rain recorded, said the Met Office.

In Somerset, a number of businesses were flooded and many roads were closed in Minehead.

Part of the car park at IKEA in Exeter was flooded after the heavy rain but the store remained open.

There were also reports of flooding at the South Devon School of Gymnastics in Paignton and the Passage House Inn in Topsham.

The rain led to widespread road closures and bus and train cancellations.

People in one south Devon village came together to rescue an elderly woman who was trapped in an upstairs bedroom in her home following the floods.

Some 50 villagers helped 95-year-old Betty Baldwin when the ground floor of her home in Harberton, near Totnes, flooded in the early hours.

Neighbour Jonathan Bean climbed through a window to come to Ms Baldwin's aid.

Ms Baldwin said she was woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of "an awful lot of water, like the sea".

The pensioner went to her window and shouted out: "I can't get out! I can't get out! I'm just so frightened.

"Help me please!"

Mr Bean told BBC Radio Devon the water came up over his knees when he entered Ms Baldwin's home at about 02:50 BST .

He said the furniture was floating everywhere and he had to wade through it to try to comfort Ms Baldwin.

He said: "She was distressed, very distressed."

The pensioner, who will be 96 in two weeks, waited in bed until she could be moved to the safety of a neighbour's house.

It is a massive clean-up - there is mud and mess everywhere.

On Saturday night and Sunday there were torrents of water coming down with 20 homes flooded, some with water and mud up to chest height.

There were 1,000 lightning strikes across the region on Sunday, and about one month's rain fell in just six hours.

Betty was trapped upstairs late on Saturday night and the water was about 2ft 6ins (76cm) high.

She is now staying with friends in the village, but is in high spirits and hopes the authorities will find her somewhere she can move to in the next few days.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "On Sunday, following a period of intense heavy rainfall, flood water on the Yeolands Stream exceeded the capacity of third party-owned culverts in Harbertonford and spilled into the overland flow route, which is maintained by the Environment Agency.

"The system was overwhelmed and around eight properties were flooded. Our operations teams were out overnight clearing the overland flow route.

"Agency community information officers were also on site conducting reconnaissance and engaging with the local community."

Harbertonford is about 1.7 miles (2.7km) south of Harberton.

Torrential rain and lighting also hit communities and businesses in Dawlish, Torquay, Topsham and Exeter.

In Kenton the primary school was closed on Monday as it was also affected by the flooding.

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