A TORRENTIAL downpour this week left shoppers and holidaymakers scurrying for cover - and resulted in eight inches of floodwater in some places.In Great Yarmouth, the torrent created a moat around the Caister Road home of Arthur and Maria Humphrey.

A TORRENTIAL downpour this week left shoppers and holidaymakers scurrying for cover - and resulted in eight inches of floodwater in some places.

In Great Yarmouth, the torrent created a moat around the Caister Road home of Arthur and Maria Humphrey. Waders were needed to get through the Humphreys' front gate, with several inches of effluent covering the adjacent road and pavement.

Sewerage and surface water spewed from two drains in the road during the downpour, sweeping into the drive and garden of the house. Self-employed bricklayer Mr Humphrey said: “I have building materials in the drive that have been completely ruined. I was worried about the flood water getting in our pond and killing the wildlife.”

Traffic had to negotiate the flood which covered several metres of Caister Road to the junction with Lawn Avenue.

Pedestrians in Gorleston High Street had to wade through water after drains overflowed outside Lloyds TSB.

Worried bank staff watched as the water level crept over the pavement and rose until it was level with the top of the bank's doorstep at the height of the freak 20 minute deluge before finally subsiding as the rain eased at 4pm.

However, evidence of the flood was left all over all over the pavement as the water, which had travelled downhill from the Church Road direction, brought litter, leaves and even raw sewerage.

Branch manager Annette Jubb said: “When I came out with one of my customers and saw the water level rising, I thought, oh my God. The problem was it came down so quickly. Some of the customers took their shoes off to wade out in it to get back home.”

The bank staff said flooding was a regular problem on the corner of the traffic lights.

Bradwell's over 60s club members called in the fire brigade after noticing water lapping into the village's community centre.

The water nearly reached an electricity box at the community centre in Lord's Lane, before firefighters from Yarmouth and Gorleston arrived to deal with the flood at 3.40pm.

Several club members were forced to leave their cars after the centre's car park was submerged by several inches of water.

Centre secretary Venetia Spink said: “We have been really lucky this time as the damage is not so bad this time around. The over 60s club told me the centre was flooded and water was heading towards an electricity box. It is a bit ironic though, as flood alleviation work was due to start next week around here.”

The Citizens' Advice Bureau in Stonecutters Way, Yarmouth, was also flooded after water seeped under a wall from a courtyard, while firefighters also had to pump water from homes in Beccles Road and Burgh Road in Gorleston.