Croydon survived a battering from the elements over the weekend as heavy rain and fearsome winds swept their way across the country - but forecasters predict worse is yet to come.

Severe downpours and winds gusting at nearly 50mph are expected to lash the town over the next few days, with firefighters and emergency response teams preparing for another bout with nature as winter sets in.

Five households had to be evacuated because of the risk of an electrical explosion, after their basements became flooded with water during the storms on Sunday afternoon.

Firefighters spent almost four hours using special submersible pumps to clear water from around electrical junction boxes at the homes in Prince Road, Selhurst.

A council spokesman said the lack of incidents was down to extensive preparation by their emeregency response teams.

He said: “They were out on standby, but really just making sure everything was in order.”

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