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Flash flood sweeps through Coverack in Cornwall | Flash flood sweeps through Coverack in Cornwall |
(35 minutes later) | |
Flash flooding has seen torrents of water sweep through a Cornish village. | Flash flooding has seen torrents of water sweep through a Cornish village. |
Residents in Coverack, on the Lizard Peninsula, have reported roads being blocked and hailstones the size of 50 pence pieces smashing windows. | Residents in Coverack, on the Lizard Peninsula, have reported roads being blocked and hailstones the size of 50 pence pieces smashing windows. |
Heavy rainfall hit at about 15:00 BST and the coastguard airlifted two people trapped in a house. Four people remained in the building. | |
Emergency services have asked people to avoid the area and not attempt to drive through any flood water. | Emergency services have asked people to avoid the area and not attempt to drive through any flood water. |
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said its crews were attending "multiple flooding-related incidents" and urged people to "avoid this area". | |
A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said a helicopter was sent from Newquay. | |
She said: "Six people were in a house and two have been rescued from the house by helicopter." | |
Karla Wainwright, who works at the Paris Hotel, said: "This afternoon we could tell it was going to get about stormy, then about 3pm it hit. | Karla Wainwright, who works at the Paris Hotel, said: "This afternoon we could tell it was going to get about stormy, then about 3pm it hit. |
"There were hailstones as big as 50p pieces and a lot of small panes in our windows are broken." | "There were hailstones as big as 50p pieces and a lot of small panes in our windows are broken." |
Ms Wainwright said the storm continued for an hour and a half. | Ms Wainwright said the storm continued for an hour and a half. |
"Once it cleared off then we could see a massive flood of water coming down the main way into Coverack." | "Once it cleared off then we could see a massive flood of water coming down the main way into Coverack." |
Bill Magill, who owns the nearby White Hart hotel, said the water was "over a foot high" in some areas. | |
"It was nothing like I've ever known in this area, we were totally unprepared for it and it was totally unexpected," he said. | |
"[It was] racing down a little country lane, pouring over the banks like these waterfalls." | |
'Cut in half' | 'Cut in half' |
The Met Office said the flood followed heavy thunderstorms and rain in Cornwall and Devon on Tuesday afternoon. | The Met Office said the flood followed heavy thunderstorms and rain in Cornwall and Devon on Tuesday afternoon. |
Bill Frisken, a local councillor in Coverack, said he could not access the centre of the village because the main road is underwater. | Bill Frisken, a local councillor in Coverack, said he could not access the centre of the village because the main road is underwater. |
Describing the speed with which the flood hit, he said: "It was almost instantaneous." | Describing the speed with which the flood hit, he said: "It was almost instantaneous." |
"The village has effectively been cut in half, you can't cross the river," he added. | "The village has effectively been cut in half, you can't cross the river," he added. |
Mr Frisken said he and his wife had to bail water out of their kitchen, while their garage was also flooded. | Mr Frisken said he and his wife had to bail water out of their kitchen, while their garage was also flooded. |
"It was several feet of water coming down and pouring into the house. The depth of water was immense." | "It was several feet of water coming down and pouring into the house. The depth of water was immense." |
Another witness said: "I have never seen such big hails. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing and it was hailing, all at the same time. | |
"It was quite amazing really." | |
Have you been affected by the flash flood? If it is safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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