CREDITON became a virtual island during Wednesday morning when floodwater caused by heavy rain in the early hours resulted in access roads to the town being closed or only "passable with care".

The A377 was closed at Cowley due to flooding and many cars came were stranded in the floodwater.

It was also closed or "passable with care" at Downes Mill where, at one stage, the water was several feet deep.

The A3072 was closed at Bickleigh Bridge and for a time at Exhibition Corner, Crediton and from North Tawton to Bow.

The A382 was closed at Whiddon Down and many other smaller roads were closed or only just passable.

Many villages were cut off due to flooded roads.

The Tarka Line was already out of action for repairs to take place (and will remain so until December 3) and this did not help the traffic situation.

Many bus transport services were stopped or delayed and long queues could be seen at bus stops in Crediton as people hoped a bus would arrive.

Driving on the roads which were open proceeded to become more difficult during the morning as floodwater rose and rivers burst their banks.

Many businesses suffered as a result of the flooding on the already saturated ground.

In Crediton, for example, both Lloyds Bank and NatWest were unable to open at all on Wednesday and Barclays for just the afternoon as staff were unable to reach the branches.

Devon County Council put in some one way systems on local roads, assisted by Crediton Police officers, to enable people to reach the town or leave it when the floods were at their worst.

Rose Palmer of Chinns, sausage manufacturers, of Lords Meadow Industrial Estate, said on Facebook: "Crediton is officially an island - can't get our deliveries out due to flooding."

Some roads looked as if they were rivers and many people were astounded at the sights they saw.

Emergency services were kept busy and in some areas schools as well as businesses were closed.

Deliveries were delayed and many people were just unable to get to their place of work.

Queen Elizabeth's Academy were unable to run five of the afternoon bus services and parents were advised to make their own arrangements to collect their children.

The Academy also cancelled some events, including the dress rehearsal and Thursday performance by students of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Many people said they had not seen the floods so deep at Downes Mill since bad flooding 18 years ago, which also resulted in Crediton being cut off to the outside world.

Many social and sporting activities and events were cancelled or postponed.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service experienced a high amount of calls to flooding incidents across the service area.

Since the rainfall began at 2.12am and until 6pm, the Service attended 422 incidents due to flooding and said it had 20 incidents still on-going.   

It drafted in appliances from other service areas to assist with operations.

The Met Office issued an Amber warning of further rain from 2pm on Thursday, with the addition of gusts of wind to 50 or 60 mph in many places.

It said: "In view of the wind and rain combination, the public should be prepared for more disruption."

The Environment Agency warned that the further bands of heavy rain and strong winds could possibly lead to further flooding over the next few days.