AN ILMINSTER business owner says she is 'devastated' at being force to shut shop until further notice following the recent flash flooding in the town.

Caroline Speke, who owns Silver Street Dairy said it would likely to be at least another fortnight until the store re-opened, and was frustrated at missing out on business during the busy summer season.

"We have been quite shocked by it all, the rain on that day was just biblical, I have never seen anything like it," Mrs Speke said.

"It is devastating for the business, the dairy has not been closed for a prolonged period like this in 15 years."

Employee Claire Timson was the first on the scene, having been sent a message by a friend on Facebook saying the torrential rain appeared to have caused flooding in the shop.

"I came straight down here at about 1pm, only to find it had gone through into the shop. It was up to my ankles, and had lifted a manhole cover in the street opposite and even moved parts of the pavement outside," Mrs Timson said.

"The firefighters turned up shortly after and began pumping the water out, they were fantastic but the flooding had caused considerable damage to the store," she added.

Mrs Speke said she would be speaking at the Ilminster Town Council meeting on Tuesday night, calling on Somerset County Councils and the Highways authority to review the drainage system in place and how often it is cleared.

"I would like to thank the residents for their support and encouragement, now we just want to re-open as soon as possible," Mrs Speke said.