Downpour emergency call-outs

In total they were called to 22 flooding-related incidents across the area between 3am and 7am.

Bexhill firefighters were called to rescue an elderly lady in Hastings Road at 4.11am, after a ceiling collapsed which resulted in flooding in the first-floor bedroom of her flat.

An ambulance was called and the pensioner had to be given oxygen at the scene before being taken to hospital.

Fire alarms were set-off at a number of properties in Bexhill, Hastings, Eastbourne and Brighton, as electrics were affected by flooding.