Homeowners have been warned to get sandbags to protect their properties after flash flooding brought parts of the country to a standstill.
Torrential downpours hit Devon and Cornwall overnight leading to a deluge of rain and mud sweeping through towns including Looe, Polperro, Fowey, Launceston and Bodmin, leaving business and homes under water.
Many residents are quickly trying to source sandbags, as the Met Office warns the rain could continue throughout the night.
Shoppers looked on a cars battled through flood water which struck Fowey in Cornwall on Sunday after a deluge overnight
Many residents are quickly trying to source sandbags, as the Met Office warns the rain could continue throughout the night
Torrential downpours hit Devon and Cornwall leading to a deluge of rain and mud sweeping through towns including Looe, Polperro, Fowey (pictured), Launceston and Bodmin, leaving business and homes under water
The south coast towns of Looe and Fowey have been badly hit as rainwater swept while Bodmin, Launceston, and St Blazey were also badly hit as 30mm of rain was expected to fall in just six hours.
In Polperro, Cornwall, some roads remain completely impassable after water and mud rushed down the street.
This comes just months after Coverack was devastated by flash flooding, with many homes and businesses destroyed.
Polperro council chairman David Pengelly said: ‘It’s absolutely horrendous rain here. There’s water coming down from all the hills. The amount of rain we’re having here it’s like a cloudburst, it’s like a river.
‘I can see the river coming down. As for flooding, I’m going to be sure there is, but I can’t tell you any more right now. We haven’t heard the flood alarm go off yet. It’s nothing like what’s been forecast.’
People took to social media to warn how much water there was on the roads amid a number of collisions as people return from their summer breaks before the start of work and school.
Councillors, local MPs and residents took to social media to warn others as the flash floods struck the region
Members of the emergency services and highway maintenance crews clearing up after the flood in Caffa Mill, Fowey, Cornwall
There were long tailbacks as holidaymakers poured out of Devon and Cornwall and near Exeter, the A30 was almost gridlocked.
Tory MP Steve Double sent a tweet to South West Water in a desperate bid for help. He wrote: ‘Major flooding in Par but cannot get hold of anyone. Please can someone get in touch asap.’
Neil Smart, who is on holiday from the Midlands, said: ‘This has been extraordinary. The weather has been okay with some raid over a few days. But overnight and today have been unbelievable.
‘We are heading home but I have never seen streets turn into rivers so quickly. It was incessant.
‘I feel sorry for the local folk who have to clear up every time there is a deluge.’
Neil and his family had been touring around the county and stopped off in Fowey when they witnessed the downpour.
Mary Pickford, 64, from Manchester, was also caught up in the flooding.
She was staying in east Cornwall and said: ‘I hadn’t brought Wellington boots with me but that’s what everyone needed today.
‘It has been terrible. What a mess is leaves behind. The amount of rain has been huge.
‘What a dreadful end to a dreadful summer. Wasn’t somebody predicting a drought at the start of the year ?!’
A tanker was brought into Fowey to help clear from of the floodwater. Plymouth and parts around Exeter also suffered some flooding as the heavy band of rain moved across the region.
According to the Met Office, rain and drizzle will extend to the east of the UK this evening, remaining damp in the west
According to the Met Office, rain and drizzle will extend to the east of the UK this evening, remaining damp in the west.
Monday is set to see a damp start with brighter spells developing across parts of the south leading to warm and humid conditions and highs of around 24C, but becoming wet and windy in the northwest.
Met Office forecasters say rain will erratically move east on Tuesday, with brighter skies and cooler temperatures.
Wednesday and Thursday are set to see sunshine and showers, with windy conditions in the north of the UK.
Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said: ‘Tropical Depression Ten is tied into the low pressure which brought wind and rain on Sunday.
‘But it will bring warmer air and Monday could see 24C in sunshine on a mostly cloudy air, with Tuesday also warm.
‘It will be breezier from Wednesday and we then have an unsettled spell by Saturday with stronger winds and rain.’