What a difference a day makes. On Sunday, Uckfield High Street resembled a big, brown, muddy lake.

Yesterday, the water had drained away, leaving weary shopkeepers with the miserable bank holiday task of clearing up the mess as the sun blazed down.

When the Uck overflowed in December, 1993, looters raided shops as fridge freezers and crates of beer from the Lo-Cost supermarket floated down the road in 3ft of water.

It was nothing like as bad this time, but traders were still counting the cost - and cursing the officials who previously said the floods were a once-in-50-years experience.

Shopkeepers, helped by firefighters and council workmen, were forced to deploy sandbags to stop water wrecking fixtures, fittings and stock, with varying degrees of success.

Peacocks clothes shop, Potters book shop and Wilsons estate agents bore the brunt of the deluge, with carpets and some goods damaged.

Freak storms and abnormally high tides caused the River Uck to overflow, flooding the south of the High Street, despite work by the Environment Agency several years ago to raise the banks of the river.

Sylvia Jenna, owner of Uckfield News, was one of only four traders in the affected area to open yesterday.

Mrs Jenna said: "The water started rising very quickly, but the council and the fire brigade were brilliant.

"The water was to the door and starting to come through the letter box, then it suddenly stopped raining and went down again.

"We were very lucky - a few minutes longer and it would have been in the shop and that would have caused a lot of damage."

The Environment Agency issued a red flood warning, the highest alert, at the time of the flood and people were warned to stay away.

But that didn't stop people from sightseeing. Mrs Jenna, 50, said: "There was one lad riding about in the water on his bike. He was loving it and said it was the best day of his life.

"But most of us know the situation and know to be on our guard if it rains.

"We hadn't had a flood like that for a long time. Since the banks of the river were raised it has been all right.

"It was exceptional circumstances this time, what with all that rain and the high tide."

Chris Pelling, owner of Pelling's motor store and cycle centre, said: "A few years ago we had 2ft of water in here and it ruined everything. At one point the water was rushing into the High Street like a river.

"Thankfully this time we were lucky and the water didn't quite get in."

Yesterday, shoppers hoping to hunt for some bank holiday bargains were left disappointed as many shops were unable to open.

Shopper Cyril Banks, 81, said: "When I was younger it used to flood here all the time.

"We used to play in the water and go down the High Street on boats.

"Flooding has always been a problem here and always will be.

"Most people have learned to live with it as part of the charm, if that's the right word, of the town."

Uckfield town councillor and East Sussex county councillor Mike Skinner was on scene at the weekend to assess the situation. He said: "You are never going to get regular flooding in Uckfield like we had before because of the work that has been done to stop it.

"I'm satisfied sufficient work has been done to stop flooding in normal circumstances, but this was exceptional circumstances. Acts of God will happen and there is little we can do to stop them entirely."

The Environment Agency has now scaled down alerts on the River Uck and dozens of other waterways across the county.

Yellow and amber alerts still apply to the Ouse, Cuckmere, Rother, Brede and Tillingham rivers in East Sussex and the Arun and Adur in West Sussex.

A spokesman said: "The weather has now improved and water levels are falling. Barring any more severe downpours, there should not be any further problems."

Argus weatherman Ken Woodhams said it was the wettest Spring Bank Holiday for 30 years and Saturday was the wettest day in May since 1973.

On Sunday the rain was less prolonged and showers gave way to sunshine in most places yesterday, allowing the residents of Hickmans Lane, Lindfield, near Haywards Heath, time to clear up following the weekend's storms.

Some garages and gardens were under about 3ft of water after the drainage system failed to cope.

A handful of residents were trapped in their homes. Antony Clements, 60, and his wife Frances, of Hickmans Lane, found their garden submerged for the second time since Christmas. Mr Clements said: "We thought we could relax in the summer, but here it is nearly June and we have got it again."

Mid Sussex District Council has carried out drainage work, but Mr Clements said: "There are three culverts in the area, but it is still not enough. They just can't take it. The water will take about a week to disappear."

Fire crews from Turners Hill and Haywards Heath spent three hours at the scene. Leading Firefighter Mark Butler, based at Haywards Heath, said: "I have never seen rain like it. The culvert was unable to cope."

A Church of England festival for 600 campers at Plumpton Racecourse, near Lewes, was abandoned after tents were washed out. Spokesman Barry Hill said: "Some were floating on their lilos when they woke up."