The Environment Secretary has met with flood victims who saw a deluge of water come through their village during Saturday's floods.

Flood-hit communities across the UK were left counting the cost of the torrential downpours that left homes under water and one man dead.

Caroline Spelman was visiting Ottery St Mary, near Exeter, which saw some of its main roads turn into rivers after a month's worth of rain fell in just 24 hours. Devon was the worst hit area as three severe flood warnings were issued and a huge clean-up operation was under way in the South and East of the county.

Ottery St Mary has seen previous devastating floods and has since had a number of flood defences put in place.

Ms Spelman stopped at different locations around the village and talked to people about how effective these measures were during Saturday's downpour. One of the culverts she was taken to protected 60 nearby properties from water entering their homes.

Elizabeth Nickels, 62, said they had been incredibly lucky that the flood prevention scheme had been completed just weeks ago.

"Down by the bottom of Slade Close on the other end of the town it was absolutely dreadful," Mrs Nickels said. "The water was coming off East Hill in absolute torrents and they were absolutely unable to get in and out of that part of the town. So we were so much luckier on this side of the town, I mean the defence worked, and thank goodness for it, when you think it's only been finished a few weeks it was exactly at the right time."

In the centre of the village a measure has been taken to help stop cars being washed away by the flood water.

Philip and Nolwenn Luke had their Audi swept down a small lane in 2008 - a picture that hit the headlines. Mr Luke, 36, told the Environment Secretary that measures put in place since had prevented this from happening again, including an early warning system, which allowed him to move the car to a safe area.

"I moved it this time, sensibly," Mr Luke said. His wife, 40, said: "We get a text from the Environment Agency as an early warning."