A major mopping-up operation began today in flood-devastated Uckfield.

The water may have gone but the costly clean-up has only just begun.

Yesterday the town saw the worst floods in living memory cause millions of pounds of damage.

The town was submerged in up to 5ft of filthy flood water when the River Uck burst it banks.

Today people in the town were doing their best to start getting back to normality.

Roads were reopened and pedestrians allowed to walk through the normally busy High Street.

Soggy sandbags, which proved useless against the deluge, were still piled against shop doorways. Debris littered roads and pavements.

Many shopkeepers were helped by volunteers as they began to clear up.

William Hocking, 44, owner of Riverside cafe and restaurant, said: "Everything has floated down the river - tables, chairs, the lot.

"The flood warnings came too late but it was too late to do anything anyway. I don't even want to think about how much this will cost us. We've lost almost everything."

Vivienne Cheffy, 49, of gift shop Worldly Treasures, said: "My insurance company say they want to see all the damaged goods before they can assess my claim but I've hardly been able to save anything.

"I felt sick when I first saw how bad it was. Everything I sell in this shop I love but now I've lost it all."

Ray Abberline, 38, owner of Market Hall Food Store, was less traumatised, however.

He said: "I think we have got to be philosophical. Nothing could have prevented these floods. I plan to restock as soon as I can.

"What shocked me was that all my stock had disappeared. It had just floated away. I just want to get on with it. I could stay at home and dwell on it but that wouldn't get me anywhere.

"At least no one was killed and it put Uckfield on the map!"