A KINSON couple have been left dealing with tens of thousands of pounds' worth of flood damage after rainwater poured into their home during the recent storm.

Former BT engineer Len Simpson and wife Maddy were watching the electric storm from the comfort of their lounge when the drama unfolded in the early hours of Saturday.

Len, aged 66, told the Daily Echo: "I'd gone out to the porch to have a cigarette and the rain was coming down so hard it just looked like someone had put up a white sheet against the window.

"Then I looked down and water was starting to lap at the step."

Len and Maddy quickly rushed to gather towels in a bid to prevent the flood water streaming into their Bramley Road home.

"By the time we'd actually got some towels to put down by the door, water had already started coming in through the wall," said Len. "It was running down into the house like a river."

The house, which has been left badly flood damaged, stands at the end of Royal Oak Road, Kinson, Bournemouth - a road that is on a slight incline.

Despite there being two storm drains close to their property, the water simply flowed down Royal Oak Road and into the Simpson's home.

Maddy said: "We rolled up towels to block the water, but the towels were just floating. Water was coming into all the downstairs rooms. It was horrible.

"I just rolled my trousers up, I was in my bare feet. I went into the bathroom with a jug to start bailing out, but while I was there water started coming up from the toilet.

"I thought, 'oh no, we're going to have sewage', but luckily that dissipated."

All of the carpets in the house have been ruined, along with many electrical items, the kitchen and some personal possessions.

Maddy said: "If we'd have been heavy sleepers and were in bed it would have been a nightmare to wake up to. We managed to save some things that would have been lost. At least that is something."