ALAN and Janet Musson's summer house was one of the highlights of their picturesque garden.
So they were horrified to see it floating on top of flood waters brought about by torrential rain.
The force of the water had picked it up and dumped it on the opposite side of the lawn.
"We had a big gas barbecue in there and other things so it shows how much power the water had," said Mr Musson.
"We looked outside and saw it floating along like a boat. But there was nothing we could do. If we'd have gone out we'd have been knocked over."
The couple were among many homeowners in Halloughton Road, Southwell, whose property was wrecked by Tuesday night's deluge.
The expected amount of rainfall in the entire month of July fell in an hour-and-a-half.
It wasn't just the Mussons' summer house which was destroyed in their garden. Their chicken shed was left in ruins and the six hens that were inside are nowhere to be seen.
However, the couple are trying to remain upbeat.
"It could have been much worse," said Mrs Musson. "When we saw the water coming we thought it could come into our home. Luckily it didn't. We feel like we are the lucky ones."
At the height of the drama on Tuesday evening, cars were floating around in several feet of water in Halloughton Road.
Yesterday morning, most of the water had subsided, but it had left a trail of destruction.
Roads and pavements were covered in mud. Several cars were damaged beyond repair, many of them still having water inside.
Twenty-year-old Phoebe Wells was among those whose cars were wrecked.
It had been parked on her raised driveway but had been battered around badly by the raging torrent.
She said: "It moved the car around the driveway. It is probably a write-off now.
"The water came well up the drive. Fortunately it didn't get too near our home. It was awful."
Her mum Julie Wells said: "The water just suddenly appeared. It all happened so quickly.
"We were worried it would come into the house so we got everything upstairs. We are among the lucky ones."
Another house was flooded downstairs. The female resident was too upset to talk to the Post. A Mercedes car parked in the driveway was covered in mud inside and out.
Neighbours were yesterday clearing up outside her home.
Huge volumes of traffic were slowly passing down the road as Nottingham Road was closed from its junction with Halloughton Road to Westgate because of flooding.
On the other side of the town, the water had also left a lot of damage, not least in the Bramley Apple pub in Church Street.
Nearby Potwell Dyke had burst its banks between 7pm and 8pm on Tuesday, sending a torrent of water down the street.
Yesterday, landlady Cherrie Rollerson and landlord Jim Burley were surveying the damage.
The carpet inside was drenched, while an outbuilding used by Ms Rollerson to keep prized possessions, including photos, was on the verge of collapse.
"One wall has gone and I've been told the rest could go any time," she said.
"We haven't been here that long. I had photos in there which have been destroyed. I'll never get them back."
Mr Burley said he expects the pub to be shut for four to six weeks.
He said: "It's left a real mess. It has happened before but not this bad.
"Maybe something needs to be done about it."
Katy Miller, who lives in Church Street, fought the flood water from getting into her home in vain.
The 35-year-old said: "I'd been at work and when I got back there was water everywhere.
"Myself and my landlady got some sandbags and put them in front of the house but the water still got in."
Yesterday Ms Miller and landlady Helen Boyle, 33, were mopping up.
They had ripped up the carpet from the front room as it was so badly damaged.
"It smells bad," said Ms Miller. "The kitchen got flooded as well. I've never known it so bad.
"What made it worse were the extra waves created by cars which carried on coming down the road."
