A year ago the region was battered when a freak storm caused chaos across East Devon. Reporter John Fletcher looks back on a momentous night when the full force of nature was unleashed

ONE year on and the memory and heartbreak of the devastating freak floods which brought misery to Ottery St Mary and Feniton have not diminished.

The floods wreaked mayhem and chaos in the two communities, affecting 350 properties across East Devon.

Hailstorms clogged drains and streams were blocked, forcing residents to be evacuated from their homes.

The storm, which struck in the early hours of October 30, left properties many feet under water and roads waist-deep in swirling water and sewage.

It was the worst flooding Devon had seen in decades; almost 180mm of water fell on Ottery St Mary and Feniton in three hours.

What looked like piles of snow was actually compacted hail — at least two feet of it fell in Ottery, together with around four inches of rain, as much as it normally gets in four weeks.

Forecasters at the Met Office described the weather as "freak" because it was localised over an area of just three square miles.

Comparatively, less than a quarter of an inch of rain fell in Exeter during the same period.

The most intense rain fell between 1am and 3am on Thursday, October 30.

Forecaster Sarah Holland said: "Something like this is extremely rare. Radar pictures showed the band of rain was focused on East Devon, but we couldn't predict it would fall on such a small area.

"The band was only a few miles across. It came from the north west and passed down the western side of the country, where it obviously picked up water."

The torrential downpours also battered around 30 other communities, including Tipton St John.

Coastal towns like Budleigh Salterton were swamped and there were tales of drama, heroism and fortitude.

More than two dozen residents had to be rescued from their homes while others were trapped in their vehicles.

Roads around Ottery were closed until the floods subsided and emergency services were stretched to the limit in dealing with a record number of call-outs.

Devon Fire Control received hundreds of calls and scores of people took refuge in emergency rescue centres set up at Ottery St Mary Hospital and Feniton Sports and Social Club, where the British Red Cross helped look after those evacuated from their homes.

East Devon District Council also set up an emergency rest centre at The King's School, for those stranded at Ottery.

The council drafted in workers and medical staff to help those in need, and Ottery mayor Glyn Dobson helped stranded residents.

Several vehicles were trapped in flood water, including a 38ft lorry, while others clogged up the Furze Brook at Ottery.

Firefighters used a JCB digger to rescue seven people who had become stranded in waist-deep water in their vehicle in the town.

An elderly couple who became stuck on the roof of their car as flood waters rose around them were also rescued.

Residents in Ottery's Thorn Farm Way were among the town's worst hit.

Many were forced to leave their homes for up to six months while repairs costing thousands of pounds were completed.

Among them was grandmother Stephanie Wimms, who moved to a one-bedroom apartment.

"Leaving my home disrupted my life," she said. "This estate was bedlam. When the storm hit us the place looked like a construction site. In the three-storey properties, like mine, the water came in through the garage; I lost sentimental property belonging to my mother, including a wicker chair and trolley.

"The work to my home cost my insurance company about £30,000. The flood left me heartbroken because I had not been in the property all that long.

"None of us expected this to happen because the properties are relatively new," she said.

Elderly couple Bill and Hilary Wright, who are in their 70s, left their small bungalow for five months while builders carried out repairs.

Mrs Wright, who is in her 70s, said: "I was woken by water swirling in our bedroom. It was almost up to the top of our bed — about three feet deep.

"Our local firemen helped get us out of the bungalow because the water inside and outside was so deep. It was very frightening and we hope it will never happen again.

"Floors and walls had to be replaced in our home and we returned in April after moving to a rented place in Sidmouth.

"We are now looking forward to spending Christmas in our own home."

Residents in Feniton said the floods had left the village "unpassable". Many people were unable to get out because of the floodwater running past their homes.

There were also several landslides in the area and residents, including those in Canterbury Close, Salisbury Close and York Crescent, were hit by floodwater pouring into their homes.

Pensioner Pam Toogood, from York Crescent, said she was so frightened by last year's floods that she was going away for the anniversary of the storm.

"I'll be away for the anniversary," she said.

"My home was badly damaged and I don't want to go through all that again.

"My home was full of stinking sewage and mud. It came in through the front and back of the property."

Jane and Trevor Bayfield, also of York Crescent, who have an 11-year-old daughter, Andrea, also had to move out after their home was hit.

"The water was two feet deep," said Mrs Bayfield. "We moved out to a rented place at Sidmouth last November and came back at the end of May, when the repairs were completed."

Farmer Roger Blackmore, 59, and his wife, Jayne, from Salisbury Close, were forced to move out of their bungalow for five months.

Properties in the close were among the worst hit in Feniton, where the floods were as high as garden hedges.

Neighbour Patricia Blyth said: "My pet terrier Tufty raised the alarm.

"Water was two feet deep and I moved out to stay with my daughter who lives around the corner."

Roads including Gosford Lane at Fairmile were also floodbound.

Many were turned into a quagmire of smelly, sticky mud with only tractors able to get through.