Showers and strong winds whipped Somerset today with more than 40mm of rain falling on Exmoor in 24 hours and gales reaching 60mph.

Trees were flattened by the storms and roads became blocked by debris and water.

The A38 at the Blackbird Inn on the outskirts of Wellington was almost completely waterlogged for most of the day, causing traffic tailbacks during rush hour.

Fire crews in Taunton were on hand to help a man who had become stranded in a stream outside the fire station.

Fire fighters came to the man's aid after he had lost control of his car and plummeted into the waterway at 9.10 this morning.

The Environment Agency issued flood watches across Exmoor and over the Devon boarder at the Upper Exe river from Exford to Exebridge, the Rivers Barle, Lyn, Mole, Bray and their tributaries, and coastal streams from Combe Martin to Lynton

Residents across the county were urged to make sure they have their own personal flood plans in place in the event of an emergency.

The agency's civil contingencies manager for Somerset Nicola Dawson said: "Family and community flood plans should be put into practice.

"The district and the county council will have emergency contingency plans as will the emergency services. But the idea is, in an emergency you should be able to help yourself first and rely on support after."