PREGNANT WOMEN were turned away from a community hospital yesterday after flash floods forced the maternity unit to close for six hours.

Wallingford Community Hospital was damaged by the torrential rain that swept across the county, with women hoping to deliver being re-directed to Wantage Hospital or offered home births.

The hospital reopened yesterday afternoon.

In just three hours yesterday morning, three weeks-worth of rain battered Oxfordshire.

Terrified residents in Didcot leapt from their beds at about 4am to find water gushing into their homes.

Steve Pringle, 28, and his mum, Brenda, live at number five Bridge Close, which was one of the worst affected streets.

He said: "At one point the water reached the first step on the stairs.

"The whole downstairs was just completely soaking wet. We just threw as many towels and sheets down to try and stop it.

"It was up to the plug sockets. We had to turn all our electricity off."

Mrs Pringle, 61, who undergoes regular treatment to help boost her immune system following an aggressive course of chemotherapy, said she did not know where she would be able to stay.

She said: "I can't stay here, it is so wet. I can hear the carpet squelch when I walk.

"And because we had to turn all the electricity and heating off, it's freezing."

Neighbour Richard Williams was forced to take a day off work in a bid to clear the wreckage.

The father-of-two said: "It was like a water rapid; the whole downstairs flooring and carpet is ruined and the bottom of some of the furniture is still soaking wet.

"In the six years we have lived here, I have never seen anything like this."

It was not just homeowners who were victims of the freak storm; commuters abandoned their travel plans as Didcot Parkway station became partially submerged in water.

James Crook, a spokesman for Network Rail, said: "The volume of rainfall led to flooding on the track and in the subway that caused one platform to close, leaving one open."

The station reopened yesterday afternoon.

Mayor of Didcot, Steve Connel, was stranded for two hours after water damage caused his car to cut out.

He said: "Once again the people of Didcot have rallied together to make the best out of a bad situation.

"I saw people come out with cups of tea and coffee to give to stranded motorists.

"Some people even pushed cars into their front garden so they could turn around safely."

All Saints Church of England Primary School, Stephen Freeman Community Primary School and the junior classes at Manor School were forced to close.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service estimated they received about 50 calls linked to flooding, from 4am.