STORM Frank hit the South Hams yesterday, causing flash flooding and road chaos around the area.

People started sharing photos of the flooding on social media mid-morning, with scenes of severe flash flooding on the B3196, the road from California Cross to the A38 at South Brent.

Tim Mammatt was on his way home from spending Christmas with his family when he snapped photos of high water levels at Kittaford Cross. The flash flood was caused by torrents of rainwater running off farmland next to the road.

Lee Hoskin also shared photos as he was on his way to Plymouth on the A379, with floodwater across the road between Modbury and Yealmpton.

People in Modbury came together to protect businesses and shops as water collected at the bottom of the town. Flood wardens brought out sandbags and people walking through the town jumped into action to save stock from being damaged by the floodwater.

As the water receded, volunteers grabbed buckets and brooms to help clear the remaining water out of pubs and shops. Community spirit on show.

People cancelled plans and called into work unable to get to offices and workplaces, but most of the water seemed to arrive and then dissipate reasonably quickly, with many people reporting both roads free of flooding by around 1.30pm.

Near Ivybridge, a man was heralded as a hero after risking his life swimming into floodwater to rescue an elderly couple from their flooded car on the lane between Venton and Sparkwell.

Gary Brewer, from Plymstock, is the delivery driver who used a rock to smash his way through the window of the car to rescue the couple as the water came within 15cm of the car’s roof.

Gary told the BBC: ‘I don’t see it as putting my life at risk; I was just trying to help them out... I presumed anyone would do it for anyone, wouldn’t they?’

A spokesman for Ivybridge Police said: ‘without a doubt [his] heroic efforts made this whole incident a happy ending.’

Gary was treated in hospital for cuts to his arm from the broken window, but is now back home.

Apart from the occasional flash floods, the South Hams seems to have been lucky with Storm Frank, a few overturned wheelie-bins aside.