IN view of the lower than average rainfalls resulting in warnings from South West Water regarding levels in rivers and reservoirs, local Okehampton historians send these pictures from the 1950s into the Times.

Hilary and Mike Wreford, from Okehampton Local History Society, provided these two photographs from their collection showing the flooding at Westbridge, Okehampton, which caused many problems.

Mike told the Times: 'There was torrential rain on August 19/20, 1950, and the levels of the East and West Ockment quickly rose to dangerous levels with the worst affected area at West Bridge.

'Further upstream the Okehampton Castle Laundry at Castleford was badly hit and the the fire brigade and police were in action around the town.

'There was similar heavy flloding at the time of the 1953 Lynmouth flood disaster when there was considerable rainfall on Friday, August 15. Not only West Bridge but Castle Road and the gasworks were awash!

'Something had to be done and schemes were in hand not only to alleviate the flooding but to renew the West Bridge and improve the A30 to Cornwall, and there was great delight when these schemes finally came to fruition with the problems hopefully solved.'