FIREFIGHTERS in Trowbridge are bracing themselves for more call-outs as a summer of torrential downpours and flash flooding looks set to continue.

Firefighters from Trow-bridge, Bradford on Avon and Cooper-Avon Tyres were among west Wiltshire crews to respond to flooding in the county town on Monday night.

From 4pm to 9pm Wiltshire Fire Brigade was called out to more than 60 flood-related incidents, including deluged homes and road accidents.

Acting leading firefighter Guy Tadman said: "Monday was quite a busy night. We had between six and seven shouts just in Trowbridge. Luckily it only rained heavily for about an hour but it caused enough damage. We are braced for more to come. All the flooding gear is on standby."

Aqua vacs, the equivalent of a hoover designed to suck up water, are used to clear-up flood-hit homes, with pumping appliances used for more serious cases.

The summer of 2004 will almost certainly be remembered for its devastating flash floods, with the Boscastle storm damage, in Cornwall, among the worst in living memory.

Heavy rainfall, sweeping in from the Atlantic, started falling in Mintey and Cricklade, before moving through Malmesbury, Chippenham and west to Trowbridge.