While the region escaped the worst of the wild weather predicted for early this week, gale-force winds, torrential rain and even the odd hailstorm continued to batter the Helston and Lizard area.

The damaging hurricane-force winds forecast for Sunday night did not materialise, but the strong winds still whipped up heavy seas on the western side of the Lizard peninsula, including at Mullion Cove where the harbour wall was frequently obliterated by huge waves.

Gusts of more than 60mph were recorded by weather experts at RNAS Culdrose and the high winds brought down branches and other debris which were left littering the roads.

The sudden rainstorms caused minor flooding on some roads and farmers were left working in heavily waterlogged fields. Flood watches were in place across the county, but were mostly lifted by lunchtime on Monday.

Hailstorms, thunder and lightning also hit the region, bringing down telephone lines and causing some households to lose their electricity supplies temporarily.

And there was little respite from the weather in the offing, with further gale-force winds and heavy rain forecast for today.