A major store was left flooded after last night's rainstorms.

Drains outside Marks and Spencer at County Square, Ashford, overfilled and the water went right back into sinks inside the store's first floor.

Water then cascaded down the stairs and reached the shop floor and firefighters were called in to pump the floodwater out.

However, the shop opened as normal this morning.

Firefighter Jim Sanderson said: "So much rain poured down that the drains were flooded and manhole covers began lifting in the street outside.

"The water then backed along the drains and overflowed from sinks in the store's first floor, causing several inches of floodwater.

"The water then poured down the stairs."

Firefighters were called to the incident at 10.30pm and one engine from Ashford was sent to pump out the floodwater. They were there until midnight.

Water had overflowed from three kitchen sinks and two more at a toilets and cloakroom.

Mr Sanderson said: "Two or three staff had been in the store at the time presumably stocktaking. They were taking buckets of water out of the shop.

"The rain began to ease off later and the drains were able to cope better."