FLASH floods struck at the weekend, and with water lapping at their doorsteps a number of homeowners were relieved the deluge was just a brief one. The downpour hit on Saturday afternoon, leading to fire services being called out to Great Yarmouth and the surrounding villages.

FLASH floods struck at the weekend, and with water lapping at their doorsteps a number of homeowners were relieved the deluge was just a brief one.

The downpour hit on Saturday afternoon, leading to fire services being called out to Great Yarmouth and the surrounding villages.

And with pumping stations working overtime, the conditions proved to be the first serious test for the multi-million pound Northgate Street sewers, completed in March.

Following early morning rain, the bout of severe weather came at around 5pm, but much of the previously-maligned street remained free of water.

An Anglian Water spokesman said they were “pleased” with how the �4.7m upgrade performed.

He said: “It held up well and we think it was a success story and we're pretty sure it will be in the future for more prolonged storms.”

However, the northern junction of Northgate Street with Lawn Avenue still had problems, with cars having to drive on the wrong side of the road to avoid water.

One resident said: “It was at least three inches deep and covered the pavement and no one did anything.”

Nearby in Harley Road it was a similar story. Marilyn Jordan was left in fear for her home having already spent thousands on replacing carpets from a previous flood.

She said: “Cars were up to their wheels in water at this end of the street. It kept creeping up and luckily we were at home so we barricaded ourselves in.”

“What were Anglian Water doing? I was so angry I phoned them and was told they had no end of phone calls.

“They got here five-and-a-half hours later but the water had drained.”

There were a number of reports elsewhere of close calls and scares in Yarmouth Road in Ormesby St Margaret and Caister.