Torrential rains affected some referendum voters in London and the South East

 

_90071917_mediaitem90071916Referendum polling stations in Kingston and Barking were forced to close as 40mm (1.5in) of rain fell earlier.
And London Fire Brigade said it had attended more than 400 incidents, including properties hit by lightning.
Commuters faced severe disruption with some stations closed because of overcrowding and floods forcing the closure of roads.

 

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In Chessington, there was about 15cm (6in) of fast flowing water in the polling station on Devon Way when he tried to vote earlier on Thursday.
Kingston Council said it decided to close a polling station and move it to the Hook Centre.
The Shiraz Mirza polling station has also been moved to Malden Manor Children’s Centre in Lawrence Avenue, while the polling station at St Thomas More Catholic Church in Barking was shut because of a burst water main.

In Kent, a Dover polling station was being run on a generator because of a power outage, Dover District Council said.
UK Power Networks said electrical equipment became submerged in the floods, causing power cuts across the region, but it said everything was being done “to restore power as soon as possible”.

Some people in Barking had to be rescued from their homes by London Fire Brigade crews using boats.
While in Romford, a couple who are set to become first-time parents were forced out of their ground-floor flat after water began “pouring” into the building overnight.
David Sandor and his wife Lidia, who is eight months pregnant, said they would not be able to return to their home for two months because of the damage.
A teenager and his dad were also rescued by fire crews near Romford after they were caught in flood water in Colliers Row while trying to get to school in Croydon.
Paul Greaves described the area as “gridlock… because of the rising water” and said he and his son Josh were “lucky”.
Rescuers had been in the area when they left their car and tried to walk to a nearby station.

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