Sightseers are being warned to keep away from the sea

People turned to the fire brigade to supply them because the local authorities did not have enough despite warnings of the storm.

And road blocks created by the emergency services delayed the sandbags getting to the affected areas.

Local authorities say there will be an investigation into the supply of sandbags for residents.

Some of the residents here were trying to get sandbags from the council months ago James Hetreed

Bob Perryman, manager of East Looe Chandlery, said: "They have known about this for three days and they should have prepared for it.

"They should have had sandbags down here, ready and waiting."

James Hetreed, landlord of the Devonport Inn at Kingsand, says the sandbags simply arrived too late.

The front door of the pub was pushed in with the force of the water and flooding was widespread throughout the village. Mr Hetreed said Caradon District Council let them down.

"Some of the residents here were trying to get sandbags from the council months ago and they were told there were no sandbags available."

County and district councillor Cheryl Murray said she was "appalled" by the lack of sandbags.

She said: "Had they been provided in the morning, a lot of damage could have been avoided."

A Looe supermarket was flooded

Caradon Council said there would be an investigation into the lack of sandbags.

Officers responsible are discussing ways of coping better in the future.

But Ron Overd, leader of Caradon Council and mayor of Looe, said better measures were already in place.

He said: "There is now a pile of sandbags being stockpiled at this moment."

Police closed off part of Looe on Wednesday after the sea breached the harbour wall, causing more than 3ft (1m) of water to flood numerous shops, businesses and homes.

Even the town's lifeboat station was completely flooded, making it impossible to launch the boat.