Sussex is today facing the aftermath of the floods as weather experts predict a brief respite from the rain.

As river levels across the county return to normal, residents, businesses and officials are keeping their fingers crossed for precious dry hours to continue the clean-up operation.

The Environment Agency predicts rain for tomorrow will not lead to the same destruction as when Rivers Ouse and Uck burst their banks and water washed through homes and businesses in Lewes and Uckfield.

A spokesman said: "We are not expecting any substantial rainfall until tomorrow, which may cause surface flooding.

"We don't expect anyone will be under water again but of course we can't guarantee anything."

The agency is now working with water companies, councils and specialist teams to clean up pollutants which leaked into the flood water and may have been left behind in the sludge.

Oil, washed out of storage cans on industrial estates, is being skimmed off the surface of streams, rivers and remaining floodwaters, as tests are carried out to detect chemicals which may have dissolved.

Flood defences manager for Sussex Rupert Clubb said efforts were being made to stop the pollution spreading away from Lewes.

He said: "It is paramount we clean up the contamination as well as monitor the water levels. We are working closely around the clock with environment protection teams."

Yesterday, as the Halifax promised its building and contents insurance premiums would not go up because of the floods, John Edwards, owner of Intersport of Lewes and the Outdoor Shop in Cliffe High Street, was one of many traders facing a massive clean-up after stock was destroyed.

It is the second time he has faced the ordeal of building his business back up again after Intersport of Lewes was gutted by fire five years ago.

He said: "We put ourselves back together again and the shop was looking better than ever. Now we are back to square one. About half our stock is covered in mud, but all the rest has been damaged by the damp."

He is determined to reopen both shops within six weeks or, at a push, by Christmas.

A few doors away Derek Walter, owner of Percy's Fishing Tackle, which was filled with sewage and diesel in the floods, was not so confident.

He said: "I have lost about £60,000 worth of stock. I will struggle to get through this."

Like many other shops in Lewes, he and loyal customers cleaned up wearing protective gloves and footwear.

Staff at a dental practice, who were given 20 minutes to evacuate their premises in North Street, Lewes, on Thursday, are now writing to their 15,000 patients to tell them what to do if they need emergency treatment.

Andrew Brown, one of the six practice partners, estimated damage to equipment could cost more than half-a-million pounds.

A layer of sludge and mud now covers computers and equipment, which were destroyed by water more than four feet deep.

He said: "It is vital at the moment we contact all the patients who are in the middle of treatment."

Patients should contact their own dentist, but can phone a special helpline on 01273 472248 if they experience any problems.

Yesterday, the south end of Uckfield High Street was deserted except for a handful of shop owners and contractors clearing wrecked stock and fixtures.

Council workers were on standby with sandbags in case of a second flood while emergency services prepared for the call.

Melanie Baker, area manager for Arrow Group International, said: "We are going to be shut for at least a week. We've done all the cleaning up we can do."

Most of the shops and businesses remained boarded up and will be shut for the majority of this week.

Chris Pelling, owner of Pellings motor centre and cycle shop, said: "We have lost a lot of our stock and unlike the big boys we have had to do all the cleaning up ourselves.

"Another flood would be hard to take, especially for the independent traders."

Mopping up also continued on the Bellbrook industrial estate where dozens of units were hit.

And yesterday Southern Water finally managed to get its system up and running.

Some of its key treatment centres and sewage works in the area were submerged in the deluge and more than 400 staff had to wait until water drained away before they could get to the sites and start repairs.

Stuart Derwent, operations director, said: "We have never experienced anything like this before. We know a considerable amount of damage has been done and it will be some weeks before everything is back to normal."

Spokeswoman Jane Kelley said water across Sussex may have turned white because of chalk deposits or air but the discolouration posed no health risk.

Residents in Lewes and Uckfield, who have been able to return to their homes, have now been told it is safe to drink tapwater and flush their toilets.

But environmental health officers at Lewes District Council said taps which were submerged in the floods should first be cleaned with special products and left to run for 15 minutes.

A council spokesman dismissed rumours which claimed hepatitis could be caught from drinking tap water.

Yesterday, electricity supplier Seeboard, helped by staff from Southern Electric, managed to get 100 more homes reconnected