THE WORST floods in almost 20 years caused havoc in the Okehampton area on Saturday night and many families are now involved in a massive clean-up operation.

North Tawton and Hatherleigh were worst hit. Firefighters had to be called in from Exeter and Topsham to assist the local crews who were inundated with calls.

The water was up to waist height in some properties in North Tawton after the River Taw burst its banks. On the roads people were stranded in their cars by flood water.

Okehampton Fire Brigade station officer said he had not seen anything like it for 18 years.

'The flooding was just so quick and with the cold it made it a lot worse,' he said. 'It was important to get people out of the water as quickly as possible because of the risk of hypothermia.'

One elderly couple, who were trapped in their car at Hatherleigh, had to be taken to hospital, after they were rescued by off-duty town fireman Neil Lewis returning from a night out with his wife.

Mr Lewis made a dash to the fire station, got equipped and spent the remainder of the evening ferrying people through the flood waters.

Okehampton fire chief Ian Donovan said crews from North Tawton, Chagford, Crediton and Okehampton were dealing with the flooding at North Tawton which extended to Mill Lane, Fore Street and North Street.

'It was quite an operation because there were such a lot of properties involved,' he said.

'We were trying to stop the water going into the houses and at the same time deal with the water already inside.

'We created barriers and dykes to contain the water — it was very hard work and and crews did extremely well.

He said North Tawton is a very tight community and everyone pulled together to help.

An emergency reception centre was set up in the town hall and soup provided for flood victims and the 50 firemen.

Michelle and Ian Simons said the water was coming in their house from the overflowing drains on one side and the stream on the other.

'We had to get rid of the carpets and the lino in the kitchen and a lot of the children's toys. It is very upsetting and has ruined our Christmas really,' said Mrs Simons.

'We were on our way home when someone called to warn us about the flooding.

'Once we had got home within seconds the sitting room was just full of water. We used pumps to get the water out of the house and garden but more just kept coming in.'

Eventually it stopped raining and with help they got a lot of the water away.

'The kids are upset about the toys but we have told them that hopefully Father Christmas will bring them some more.

'We do not know if we will be back in the house for Christmas — it just depends on how well everything dries out.'

Christine King who lives in North Street was most concerned about her daughter's treasured piano — damaged by 18 inches of water.

'Rachel is in the college jazz band and gospel choir and the piano is vital for her,' she said.

On behalf of the North Tawton Town Council town clerk Alison Baker has thanked all who helped on the night.

'There was a wonderful community response,' she said.

'People in North Tawton who did not know the flood victims were offering them accommodation for the night and a party was cancelled in the town hall so we could set a reception centre there.

She said the Scrace family at North Tawton Stores let them have boxes of stuff off the shelves so they could provide food and drink to evacuated residents and the firemen.

'I cannot praise the fire crews enough — they managed to keep a lot of the water out from Mill Lane cottages and how they did this I do not know,' said Ms Baker.

'We have a history of flooding and drainage problems in North Tawton and we have been ignored by the authorities over the years.

'I just hope we can turn this disaster to some good by pressurising the relevant authorities to make sure this never happens again.'