Boscastle: the calm after the storm

More rain may hamper the clear-up

Residents in the flood hit village of Boscastle will find out today if they can return to their homes.

A cordon is still in place around the harbour area, and dozens of buildings could be deemed structurally unsafe.

More severe weather is expected today, making the operation to clear up and assess the damage even more difficult.

This morning, Breakfast brought you the latest from Boscastle

We heard one woman's story of what happened. Sharon Muffet, who lives in the village, was working in a restaraunt when the river started to rise.

Cars floated down the road like toys, says Sharon

"It happened so quickly.

"Once the car park wall went, the cars whooshed down the road like little toys," she told Breakfast's Graham Satchell.

"Initially, we thought that was a far as it would go, but it got worse. "

Sharon and her colleagues retreated upstairs, but the flood waters kept on rising. She saw other villagers being airlifted out - but she didn't get rescued until 7pm that evening, three hours after the flood began.

"I think we were incredibly lucky," she said. "I cannot believe it. It looks as though a bomb has droppped on the village."

We talked to Gordon Trapmore, of the Environment Agency, which had been planning to start flood defence work on one river above Boscastle in the Autumn.

We heard from Ian Kemp of the National Trust, which owns much of the land around Boscastle, including the harbour.

Ian was in the village on Monday afternoon as the flood waters rose - and managed to scramble to safety up a steep hillside.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for Cornwall this morning.

Strong winds and blustery showers are forecast for the area around Boscastle.

Villagers won't find out until later today whether they can go home. Structural engineers will need to assess each building before they're allowed back