TRAFFIC was brought to a standstill in West Wiltshire as roads became blocked through flooding and fallen trees.
In parts of the district more than an inch of rain fell over night with many rivers and streams soon filling up and in some cases bursting their banks.
At Staverton, near Trowbridge, the River Avon rose six inches in just half an hour forcing one elderly lady driver to abandon her car on the Causeway. She was rescued by a lorry driver.
Melksham, Bradford-on-Avon and Yarnbrook on the outskirts of Trowbridge were also severely hit. In many places there were traffic tailbacks for more than a mile.
The region was still under water on Tuesday morning with many roads still unpassable. The centre of Bradford on Avon was still closed to traffic and concern was growing that more rainfall could come on Wednesday.
People had to be evacuated last night to St Laurence School as Abbey Mill retirement homes came under threat of flooding.
Staverton, near Trowbridge, was flooded to the highest level seen for many years with the nearby Nestle factory also under water.
Emergency services and other workers were working round the clock to clear roads of debris and restore electricity supplies across the district.
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