People evacuated from their homes in Lewes during the worst of the flooding told of their ordeals today at one of the rest centres set up in the town.

Many were carried to safety by lifeboat and taken to the town hall, where the WRVS organised hot meals.

More than 100 people slept on mattresses on the floor last night.

Pensioner Margaret Francis said she left her home on the Lamport estate with her dog Duke, her son Sean and his girlfriend Amy.

Mrs Francis, 67, said: "I did not want to leave my home but my son started to get quite panicky and so we went. We were able to walk out of the back door but we had to climb over some fences.

"By the time we left there was five or six feet of water coming towards the house. It was frightening because the water came up so quickly. One minute it was OK, the next there was a pond in front of my house.

"I have lived here for 20 years and I cannot recall anything anywhere near as bad as this."

Amanda Brooks said she left her home in Morris Road with husband Garfield, 32, and children Maddy, eight, Ben, seven, and Sam, four.

She said: "We left at about 12 o'clock yesterday before the water started pouring under the doors.

"It was frightening. We left our cat Wally in the attic with some food thinking we'd be back shortly.

"We are going to wait here in the rest centre until we get news. It's nice to be around other people in the same boat. We are afraid of the unknown and what we will find when we do get home - apparently our fridge is floating about outside the house."