Drenched in Devon, but there's always a sunny side

Thousands were heading to the coast yesterday to take advantage of the hottest weekend the year so far while certain parts of the country were still mopping up from some of the worst storms in decades,

With temperatures in central and southern England set to reach 30C, the sudden good weather follows a week in which parts of Britain have suffered torrential rain, flooding hundreds of properties and closing scores of roads.

South Wales and the South-west were the most badly affected parts of the country. In east Devon, where three inches of rain fell in just 45 minutes on Thursday night, the worst flash floods for decades forced the evacuation of nearly a thousand holidaymakers from a campsite near Honiton.

In the village of Ottery St Mary, the water reached three feet in places. The town's fire station was flooded, and fire-fighters' cars had to be rescued. Martin Weiler, of the Environ- ment Agency, described the severe thunderstorm as "very, very unusual".

By yesterday morning, however, the heavy rain was receding and mopping- up operations could begin to clear roads blocked by the deluge.

The road-rescue organisations are advising motorists that most roads in the area are passable with care.

"The A30, the main route in and out of the West Country, has been reopened, but some minor roads remain under water," said an RAC spokeswoman.

But the recent rain is still likely to add to problems on the roads as thousands of people head for beaches in Devon and Cornwall.

Meanwhile, the bookmakers William Hill have cut the odds on the temperature reaching 100F (37.8C) this year from 50-1 to 33-1.

Graham Sharpe, Hill's spokesman, said: "On the hottest day of the year so far, we have taken a string of bets, and it could cost us a payout of up to pounds 250,000 if 100F is reached for the first time."

The sunny weather is expected to break at the beginning of next week giving a gloomy outlook. Thundery showers will hit most parts of the country.