Homes and businesses across Cornwall have been hit by flash floods for the second time in a fortnight.

Many towns and villages in the west of the county were flooded after torrential rain.

Some roads became completely impassable, with the main A30 closed due to deep surface water, while the road to Newquay airport was blocked by abandoned cars.

Flood watches are in place on 10 of the county's rivers and it is estimated that between 10 and 35 mm of rain fell with more forecast.

Caravan rescue

In the village of Lanner the rain started at 0900 GMT and within 30 minutes was coming into people's homes.

Council workers and residents tried to divert the flow with sandbags.

Kerrier district councillor John Thomas said that, although drainage had been improved in the village, more needed to be done.

"There needs to be a good look at an overall long-term strategy to try and sort this problem out," he said.

In Redruth 400 pupils at Trewirgie School were sent home after muddy water flowed into six classrooms.

Legal team

Three people had to be rescued from static caravans at Lansdown Caravan Park in Scorrier after being cut off by the rising water levels.

Residents in St Ives are being offered compensation for the loss of their gas supply following the severe flooding two weeks ago.

Transco has said it will pay householders �30 each 24-hour period the gas supply was off.

The company's legal team is looking into the results of an investigation which discovered the mains pipe had been damaged by a third party.