There are now no flood warnings in force for the county, but there are still a number of flood watches.

An Environment Agency spokesman said hundreds of Devon homes had escaped flooding and the rain should ease on Friday, to be followed by drier and colder weather.

On Thursday, some minor roads in the county were impassable, but Devon County Council Control said there had been no reports of any serious flooding problems on Friday.

Torrential rain

Environment Agency staff based in Exeter will continue to monitor water levels in the county.

Torrential rain earlier in the week caused flooding cross the county with homes and roads in Devon affected.

A family from Newton Abbot had to be rescued from the banks of the River Teign by firefighters after being cut off by flood waters on Wednesday evening.

The worst flooding was in Paignton town centre and Upton in Torquay.

And in Harbertonford, where work on a new flood defence scheme was completed just four weeks ago, there was some flooding but most residents said the defences had proved successful.

Most villagers were spared a repeat of the flooding they have endured in the past thanks to the dam upstream.