Flood-hit residents did a double-take when they saw Richard Woolard walking on water.

Faced with the worst floods in living memory, most people in Uckfield had resigned themselves to a day off work.

But the high-flying company director refused to let the elements beat him.

Finding himself stranded in his office, the father-of-two decided to make use of a gadget he had been manufacturing for the past 20 years - a pair of metal stilts.

He strapped on the Dura-Stilts - designed to be used by painters and decorators to reach ceilings - and effortlessly waded through 3ft of water back to his car.

Richard, 37, said: "When I saw all the water, I abandoned the car and managed to get a lift to the office in a lorry.

"After checking nothing had been damaged, I decided to go home but realised I was a bit stuck. The obvious answer was to use a pair of our stilts.

"I was a bit tentative at first so I took small steps to lessen any chance of falling head-first into the water."

Onlookers cheered his superhuman effort.

Along with fellow director Robin Hillyar, Richard runs Carobyn Products Limited, which manufactures devices for construction companies.

The business, based at Bellbrook Business Park, Uckfield, distributes the stilts for £300 a pair.