Just great! Flood-hit businesses warned new development in Cromer only going to make weather woes worse

A fed-up beauty salon owner in Cromer was left counting the cost of damage to her business this week after being hit by her fourth flash flood in 10 years.

And fire chiefs have warned the problems caused by the freak weather are only going to get worse.

Forty-seven-year-old Louise Hale, who runs Just Beauty on New Parade, revealed her basement was flooded during the thunder and lightning storm on Tuesday afternoon.

However, she admitted she feels helpless to stop it.

Ms Hale, who lives in Old Catton, said: 'It's an absolute nightmare. It's happened about four times in the last ten years.

'Luckily I didn't have any clients in, but it's happened before where I've had people in and I've had to ask them to leave because the basement's flooded.'

But she added: 'There's nothing we can do. I don't even know how bad it is this time because I can't bear to look.'

Ms Hale revealed she had previously had to pay a private contractor to pump water out of her basement and hasn't claimed on her insurance amid fears her permiums will rocket.

This time firefighters were on hand to help, with torrential rain leading to a flood of call-outs.

Ms Hale, who uses the basement of her property to do the laundry for her business, said: 'I'll have to buy a new drier which will cost money, it's not a lot, but it's a lot for a small business like this.'

As well as Just Beauty, Henry's Coffee and Tea Store in the same block also flooded.

Chris Hele, a crew manager with Norfolk Fire and Rescue service, said: 'As Cromer keeps developing this problem is just going to keep getting worse.

'Luckily we're seeing less fires because fire safety is improving, which means we're not stretched between saving properties from flooding and from fires at the same time.'

But he added: 'I've got no idea what we can do to improve this. The drains in the town are cleared out regularly so the only thing I can think to do is build bigger drains.'