Roads blocked, homes swamped and boat washed ashore in torrential rains
Emergency services were at full stretch today (Saturday) as high winds and torrential rain brought flooding misery across East Devon and West Dorset.
Main roads were blocked as banks collapsed and debris swept across highways.
Firefighters had to help several homeowners as water threatened to swamp properties.
At Lyme Regis the lifeboat crew worked with coastguards after a fishing boat broke from its mooring and drifted 400metres on to the town’s shingle beach.
The boat, Amaretto, was spotted drifting in a Force six wind, heavy seas and torrential rain by harbourmaster Grahame Forshaw, the RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager.
He alerted coastguards and the lifeboat was launched at 8.05am.
Conditions were not suitable for the lifeboat to tow the beached fishing vessel, so it was attached by rope to the RNLI tractor to await a lower tide when it could be lifted to safety.
Amaretto had been moored to a buoy outside the harbour.
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