COMMUNITY spirit helped Dulverton weather its worst flooding for almost 30 years leaving homes and businesses under water just a few days before Christmas.

At least 48 hours of torrential and heavy rain led to the River Barle bursting its banks inundating the lower part of the town last Saturday evening.

But the close-knit town pulled out all the stops to help those affected using mops, buckets and sheer determination to clear the mud and debris left behind.

Dulverton mayor Chris Nelder, who lives in the town centre, said he had never seen so much water lying on the surrounding fields.

"The river started rising in the afternoon. We'd had around 48 hours of rain and there was just so much debris coming down from further up river that it blocked the town bridge.

"People were being advised not to go out on Saturday evening unless they had to, but the following day everyone started helping out.

"There was a great community spirit but I feel so sorry for those affected."

One of the worst-hit was the Bridge Inn, where diners literally had to be evacuated as they were eating.

Licensee Kenny McDonald, who has run the award-winning pub with his wife Rachel since 2006, said it was clear by about 7.30pm that the water was going to come over the town bridge which is just a few yards from the building.

"We just had to ask people to leave and get upstairs as quickly as we could," he said.

The couple's three-year-old daughter Isla slept through the drama but six-year-old Angus thought it a great game.

"He was pretty excited by the whole thing," said Kenny.

The family had to listen to the sound of furniture and equipment breaking up as at least three feet of water gushed into the pub bar and kitchen.

Although the water levels had dropped substantially within a couple of hours, the Rachel and Kenny were left facing a mammoth clean-up.

"All the staff have been in helping to clean and try to get rid of the mud and mess," said Kenny.

"It's been a struggle, especially as this is obviously one of our busiest times of the year but we've had a lot of help from local people."

The pub re-opened - serving drinks only - on Boxing Day but food was back on the menu yesterday (Thursday).

"The kitchen is virtually fully back in action apart from one fridge but things are a bit more difficult in the bar," said Kenny.

"The draught beers are OK but the bottle chiller, fridges and some of the other equipment are not working.

"Unfortunately we cannot get any replacement equipment until the new year.

"There's just a bit of a damp smell but we're doing the best we can."

The cost of the damage is still being assessed but the couple expect the bill to run into tens of thousands of pounds.

"Nothing like this has happened before since we've been here but I think it was the sheer volume of rain that caused the problem."

Several cottages, Farthings farm shop, a beauty salon, the vets' surgery and Stanbury's Garage were among the flood victims.

Richard Stanbury, garage owner and a former retained firefighter in the town, said the area had not flooded since 1981.

"A flood alleviation scheme put in between 1984 and 1987 has worked up to now so it was a bit of a surprise," he said.

Richard, who lives just outside Dulverton, said a call from his son had alerted him to the unfolding drama in the early evening.

"The water just rose so quickly and started coming in about 7pm," he said.

"We had about three feet of water in the workshop. "We managed to get some stuff out of the way but the water damaged the electrics on some of our equipment.

"I managed to get home by about 2am on Sunday and we've been clearing up ever since."

Richard was waiting on Christmas Eve for machinery to be checked and insurance assessors to evaluate the damage.

"We did have work booked in for the Thursday and Friday after Christmas but nothing that can't be moved.

"Hopefully, we'll be up and running very soon."

A spokesman for Farthings shop said luckily it had suffered only minor flooding and they had been able to open for business on Christmas Eve.

"We had some water in but we certainly didn't get it as bad as some other businesses and homes."

Firefighting crews dealt with dozens of incidents over a 24 to 48-hour period, with areas of Devon the worst hit.

Crews from Bampton and Tiverton, along with a specialist rescue team from Bridgwater went to the aid of a woman stuck in her car in fast-flowing floodwater near Perry Farm, Brushford, just after 8.30pm last Saturday.

And when they arrived they found the occupants of a further two vehicles also trapped.

All the victims were rescued with the help of a digger and firefighters using dry suits and lines.

During the day and evening crews also went to the aid of flood victims in Silverdale Close in Brushford and North Moor Road in Dulverton and rescued someone from floodwater in Exford Road, Simonsbath.

The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service found itself so stretched that crews from Minehead worked throughout the night helping at incidents as far as Great Torrington near Bideford.

The force of the water even lifted the tarmac from the road at Marsh Bridge and Perry Barle Bridge, with roads in both paces still out of action yesterday.