Emergency crews at full stretch as storms batter the region

Emergency crews were at full stretch as wind and torrential rain battered the region last night.

There has been significant disruption to the road network affecting both local and main roads.

The A38 where it meets the M5 was badly affected by surface water and the A377 west of Cowley Bridge was impoassable early today.

Residents of a nursing home at Cullompton were evacuated as a precaution due to high water levels.

The Mill on the Exe pub was also flooded and landlord John Milan was interviewed on Sky News. He said the water had risen by 15 feet.

Other areas badly affected were Dawlish, Exmouth, Topsham, Seaton, Newton St Cyres and Stoke Cannon. 

A number of ducks in Dawlish also had a lucky escape. A caged area used to raise young ducks on the river in the centre of Dawlish had to be forced open by Police Officers with bolt croppers to stop them drowning in the rising water.