Worst summer flood for 40 years

Following almost 24 hours continuous rain the River Torridge, already swollen by rain earlier in the week, rose rapidly during the early hours of Saturday morning overflowing its banks and flooding the low-lying Torridge Valley.

While this was the worst summer flood for forty years, many of the valley farmers, who know from bitter experience the rapidity with which the river can rise, had moved livestock to higher ground and heavy losses were avoided.

From 9am on Friday to 9am on Saturday 3.42 inches of rain was recorded at Jennetts Reservoir, the heaviest day’s