FLASH floods hit West Devon after a short intense period of heavy rain yesterday (Tuesday).

A Met Office yellow weather warning heralded the late afternoon deluge and led to drains and culverts being overwhelmed and at least one home having floodwater leaking under their door.

The Toll House is marooned on Parkwood Road.
The Toll House is marooned on Parkwood Road. (Submitted)
The flood recedes from inside Toll House.
The flood recedes from inside Toll House. (Submitted)

The main road to Mary Tavy past Toll House turned into a temporary river by the flash flood.
The main road to Mary Tavy past Toll House turned into a temporary river by the flash flood. (Submitted)

West Devon Borough Council has set up a helpline for those affected by flooding.

A council spokesman said: “If you’ve been affected by flash floods in Tavistock or anywhere in West Devon today, including if you’ve been made homeless or are vulnerable, please get in touch on our out-of-hours emergency number on 01822 813360, leave us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”

The clear-up continues after the flash flood on Parkwood Road.
The clear-up continues after the flash flood on Parkwood Road. (Tindle)

Meanwhile, a couple had to have help unblocking drains when floodwater flowed down their drive and under the front door of their old toll house on Parkwood Road in Tavistock yesterday.

The residents Alison and Calum Veale were out at work at the time, but Calum’s daughter was in to start clearing items off the floor to reduce water damage.

Calum, a self-employed gas engineer, said: “My neighbour called me to tell me my house was in the middle of a small lake from the floodwater. When I got home the local authority was there trying to drain the water away by unblocking culverts and drains. It did eventually flow away.”

He explained that flooding does occur at times of heavy rain as the drains dealing with surface water cannot cope.

“The trouble is that the drained and culverts are not cleared regularly enough,” he added.

Calum said there was not major damage, just to rugs on stone floors in their house.

They also had to contend with a power cut on the same day, unrelated to the rain and the flooding, after a cable was damaged in the area.

Town councillor and town deputy mayor Steve Hipsey praised town council’s clear up operation.

He said: “I was extremely impressed by the efforts of Tavistock Town Council staff to deal with the effects of this emergency so swiftly and effectively. Work parties were on the scene very promptly, not only to minimise the effects of the flooding but to reassure everyone that TTC was on top of the situation.

“The work continued on into Wednesday as several basements were inundated by water entering gratings at road level. This was only possible through exceptionally good management, teamwork and devotion to duty.”