TRADERS and residents in Chepstow were assessing the damage done to their properties by flash floods yesterday - and many fear further predicted downpours will bring even more chaos this week.

Following 60mm of torrential rain falling around midday on Monday which flooded the lower half of Chepstow close to the River Wye, the Met Office warned of further heavy rainfall later in the week.

Phil Roberts, landlord of the Boat Inn, called the situation "worrying". "The water was rattling through the door into the pub - it was freakish," he said. "We're located right next to the water pump which is supposedly part of the town's flood defence system but the volume of water bubbling out of the drains was too great for the pump to cope."

Crews from the South Wales Fire Service arrived to help pump the water out from the building.

Mr Roberts, who lost a fridge and two leather sofas in the flood, has since laid sandbags by his doors and built a wooden flood barrier against his gate.

He said: "This is the best we can do, it will only slow the water down if it happens again though."

Elsewhere an internal ceiling at Somerfield store in Thomas Street collapsed under the weight of the rain.

Peter and Beryl Jones who own the Plough House, a furniture and antique store in Upper Church Street, have lifted up the carpets in the shop to air the floor after water got in the front door.

Mr Jones said: "I can't remember a rain like that, it was well above the top of my wellies when I went outside."

Mrs Jones said: "The water was 30 cm up the outside wall of the shop and all you could see was rubbish, bags and bottles floating everywhere. It was like a river."

The Gatehouse, Chepstow town council's headquarters inside the medieval town arch, was also affected by the downpour.

Water leaked through the roof and damaged the electrics and a clean-up operation was required after the wooden floor of the civic suite was soaked.

Mayor Phil Hobson said: "We only have one medieval town arch so we need to ensure that it can't be damaged in another torrential downpour. But what happened here is nothing compared to the damage done to local businesses."