Gushing toilet overflows 'like champagne glass' during London flood

Tap above to watch video report by Simon Harris

A pensioner today described her toilet overflowing ‘like a champagne glass’ during flash flooding in London.

Marion Gettleson, 74, watched in horror as water levels in her Notting Hill basement flat rose to waist height.

Her home was one of several properties in Portobello Road swamped during the sudden downpour.

• Summer storm leaves streets under water and commuters stuck on trains

Toy shop owner Kenny Kaneko raced downstairs to help Mrs Gettleson to safety.

"The toilet looked rather like a champagne glass being overfilled but unfortunately it wasn’t champagne, it was something else and it was spilling out all over the floor," said Marion Gettleson.

Among the possessions left floating in the filthy water was a scrapbook containing her marriage certificate.

Water flows down Portobello Road during flash flooding

London Fire Brigade said it had taken more than 1,000 calls related to the flooding. The Met Office said a month's worth of rain fell in just two hours.