Search for man in swollen river

A third of an average month's rainfall fell in one night

A coastguard helicopter has been searching the rain-swollen River Exe in Devon after reports that a person may have fallen in.

An RAF rescue helicopter from Chivenor in north Devon has also airlifted a person stranded on the roof of a Land Rover near Black Torrington.

Flood warnings are in place on four rivers in the South West.

Almost one inch (20mm) of rain fell in Devon and Cornwall on Tuesday night, a third of the average July rainfall.

The search on the River Exe near Tiverton began on Wednesday afternoon after a local person described seeing a dog running free and claimed to have heard shouting.

A coastguard helicopter from Portland in Dorset joined police in the search but called off the search on Wednesday evening.

Heavy rain has also been causing difficult driving conditions on roads across Devon with many routes affected by deep standing water and surface spray.

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings on the Barle, Brue, Dart and Tamar rivers.

Mount Street Primary School at Greenbank in Plymouth has had to close its nursery and reception classes for the rest of the week due to flooding.