Water swept through the village from three rivers

The Environment Agency admitted the first warning of floods in the area were only available at 1610 BST.

By then, the three rivers which run through the village had been turned into a torrent of water.

All were swollen by 77mm of rain in three hours which caused a 3m-high wall of water that hurled cars into the sea and marooned residents on rooftops.

Last year, the region had the second highest number of flood warnings on record.

Flood defence

Bridget Norris, of the Environment Agency, said: "We need to look into the flood warnings and there will be a review in the next few days.

"But it is notoriously difficult to predict when these very local events will happen."

She added that a review of procedures always followed major incidents.

The village is positioned in a steep valley where two valleys meet, formed by the rivers Valency and Jordan. A third river, the Paradise, also flows through the village.

Ms Norris said: "When you have a steep valley and this amount of rain, these kind of things happen very quickly and without warning."

Plans for a small flood defence scheme on the Jordan were put back earlier this year after villagers complained about possible effects on the tourist trade.

But deputy parish councillor Arthur Bannister said the scheme would not have held back the torrent that swept into Boscastle, mainly from the Valency.

He said: "The plan was to construct a small dam to hold back debris.

"I don't know if anything could have been constructed to hold back this kind of rainfall and if you were to construct a system the cost would be exorbitant."

Thousands of homes in north Cornwall are still on alert.

The Environment Agency says four flood warnings are already in place, on the Rivers Neet and Stratton at Bude, the River Camel and the Ottery.

The agency says river levels are now expected to recede, but more heavy rain is expected later on Tuesday.