Great Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis has praised the quick response of emergency teams to yesterday's flash flooding which brought water cascading into homes and businesses.

Eastern Daily Press: Owen Church, owner of Hemsby Post Office, has sandbagged his property to protect against any weekend downpours. Picture: LCOwen Church, owner of Hemsby Post Office, has sandbagged his property to protect against any weekend downpours. Picture: LC (Image: Archant)

The fire minister has this morning been visiting communities struck by yesterday's wild weather and lending his support to those who suffered in the deluge, as the clean up operation begins.

Eastern Daily Press: Martin Talbot, landlord of the Jolly Farmers pub, starts the clean up after Friday's flash floods. Picture: LCMartin Talbot, landlord of the Jolly Farmers pub, starts the clean up after Friday's flash floods. Picture: LC (Image: Archant)

The torrential downpour, which hit east Norfolk villages and Norwich yesterday afternoon, swamped roads, pavements, homes and gardens and caused disruption on the roads and public transport.

Among the hardest hit communities were Hemsby and Ormesby where the water reached knee deep within minutes.

Mr Lewis met with businesses and villagers in both communities, as well as local councillors to discuss drainage issues.

He said: 'One of the people I was talking to had a rain gauge, which measured 30mm in under half an hour [yesterday].

'That kind of rainfall is unprecedented. Hopefully we won't see that again but what we do need to make sure is that the community is able to get back to normal as quickly as possible.'

Mr Lewis praised the community spirit he saw as well as the quick response of the fire brigade, coastguard, lifeboat service and police.

The Jolly Farmers pub in Ormesby had to close yesterday after the bar, kitchen and restaurant was flooded.

Landlord Martin Talbot said: 'It always builds up here but not to a dangerous height. It was just the amount of rain, it started coming through every door.

'There was nothing you could do apart from get all the furniture out of the way.'

Customers helped staff rescue carpets and furniture and humidifiers were quickly brought in to start the drying out process.

The clean up continued this morning but Mr Talbot said the pub would be open as usual today and tomorrow.

In Hemsby the Post Office was open as usual after it was swamped with water, and owner Owen Church has prepared for the downpours forecast for this afternoon by getting sandbags in place.

Mr Church said: 'It came straight through the shop door, through the flat at the back and flooded all my out houses.

'We have got sandbags and just hoping it won't be like yesterday.'

Newport Road, which was under water yesterday and closed off into the night, had dried out this morning. But the damage left by the water could be seen as residents swept driveways and drains, and piles of soggy carpet got bundled up outside.

A Met Office yellow warning of heavy rain remains in place today across East Anglia, including a large swathe of Norfolk.