SEDGEMOOR was battered by Storm Eleanor this week, bringing back memories for many of another incident - 20 years ago.

In January 1998, the district was hit by a serious storm, complete with high winds and heavy rainfall, which left rivers flooded, trees down and homes damaged.

Your Bridgwater Mercury reported how firefighters in Bridgwater responded to 16 weather-related calls in four hours on Sunday, January 4, 1998, with crew members drafted in from nearby Burnham-on-Sea to help deal with the incidents.

Among the calls was one from a resident of Bisgood House, Huntworth, who was concerned about pigeons who had become trapped in a collapsed coop.

The birds had flown to safety by the time a crew arrived.

Bridgwater Mercury:
Flooding at King Sedgemoor Drain in 1998

Elsewhere, the Rivers Brue and Parrett were put on yellow alert for flooding, while the King Sedgemoor Drain burst its banks at Westonzoyland.

Around 500 homes in Cannington and Bridgwater were left without power and phones after lines came down, while a fallen tree in Northfield, Bridgwater, closed the road for around 30 minutes.

READ MORE: Click here for a full weather forecast

In Burnham-on-Sea, there was drama at Burnham holiday Village, where several caravans were completely destroyed by winds.

Manager, Sharon Garner, said: "We have had some caravans damaged but thankfully none of our fleet, or those belonging to our owners.

"Four caravans were damaged, which were ready to go off-site after breing sold to a trader.

"They are irreparable but we had little damage considering how bad the weather was - just a few fences down."

Bridgwater Mercury:
Firefighters checking a roof in St John Street, Bridgwater

Sgt Paul Knowles, of Burnham police, said 60 per cent of calls over the weekend were weather related, including some blocked roads, but no serious incidents.