Counting the cost of Westcountry's worst floods for decades

Communities in the South West have been coming to terms with some of the worst storms and flooding in recent memory.

Clean-up operations have begun in earnest after the region bore the brunt of terrible weather conditions sweeping across the UK.

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   Street art on the River Exe bridges in Exeter clearly shows the rise in water levels. Pictures: Brian Garwood

Some 450 homes were flooded as widespread disruption continued in Devon and Cornwall after 

almost a week of relentless rain.

Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service dealt with 875 flooding incidents out of a total of almost 1,400 incidents since the middle of last week.

The Cornwall fire and rescue service received more than 520 emergency calls over the two days, as around 114 properties were flooded across the county.

Crews carried out 85 rescues from flooding over that period, from properties and vehicles, involving 218 people.

Yesterday the Environment Agency still had 39 flood warnings and 60 flood alerts in place across the South West as rivers reached record high levels.

Meanwhile Devon County Council has called on the Government for urgent help to repair Devon's roads hit by more floods.

Leaders in the county say they need urgent Government financial support to help communities recover and to keep the county's economy moving and growing.

Devon County Council leader, John Hart met with Environment Secretary Owen Paterson as he toured the county yesterday.

Mr Paterson said: "My sympathy is with those suffering from floods – the young, elderly and families. The situation is a travesty for those forced to leave their homes.

"Although 450 homes were evacuated in Devon and Cornwall, our flood defences saved thousands more and prevented numerous other difficulties."

Council leader Mr Hart said: "Obviously there is a real human cost from this weekend's appalling weather and my heart goes out to the families I've met today whose homes have been ruined.