THE phrase 'I've never seen anything like it before' has been uttered many times in the last few days about the effects of the storms laying siege to Cornwall.

Raymond Bowden, who has lived on the Cornish coast for decades, said of the storms this week: 'In all my 56 years living in Downderry, I've never seen a sea like it. There are huge waves at sea – you can see them breaking and then running in.'

Some residents in Looe reported conditions unprecedented in their experience. The town has flooded on several occasions as a result of what has been described as a ferocious cocktail of natural elements – severe gales have been mixed with high tides and torrential rain.

Seaton, Kingsand and Cawsand have all seen serious structural damage.

Other coastal communities including Fowey, Polperro, Millendreath and Cremyll have experienced flooding.

The waterfront at Saltash has also been inundated on a number of occasions.

Inland the ferocious winds have brought down numerous trees, blocking roads and damaging property.

Roads and railway lines have been flooded, powerlines have been brought down and there have been landslips.

More extreme weather is forecast for tonight and tomorrow.