A YOUNG couple about to move into their new home lost all their furniture in flash floods that wreaked havoc across Southampton.

Ryan Sherry and girlfriend Sophie-Jane Harrod have been left distraught after seeing a river of water surge into the garage where their possessions were being stored.

The young first-time buyers are living with Ryan's stepfather, Andy Dickie, at his home in Glenfield Avenue, Southampton.

His home is at the bottom of a hill and the heartbroken couple lost everything during a violent thunderstorm that caused what the emergency services described as "unprecedented" flooding in the city on Saturday night.

Ryan, 24, said: "It all happened so fast - the water just poured in.

"We tried to save as much as we could by moving it into a room above the garage but the lights went out and we couldn't see what we were doing.

"We're still going ahead with the move on Friday, except there won't be a lot to move.

"We'd packed all our stuff in boxes ready for the big day and now it's all been destroyed. We haven't even got any shoes or clean clothes."

Mr Dickie added: "I've lived here for the best part of 20 years and have never seen anything like it - it was like a tsunami.

"Ryan and Sophie-Jane have literally lost everything. It's the end of the world for them."

Other flood victims include the family's next door neighbours, Brian and Val Bourne, who spent all day yesterday clearing up.

The couple fear they have lost their classic car, a BMW worth about £20,000, which was left partially submerged and may be a write-off.

Val said: "The TV went off on Saturday night and when we opened the door to the hall we noticed there was water everywhere.

"All the downstairs rooms were affected - and the house itself was surrounded by a moat.

"Part of the driveway has sunk and we've lost all the electrical appliances in the garage, which was flooded to a depth of about six inches."

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service was stretched to the limit as they dealt with a spate of calls at the height of the storm.

A spokeswoman said most of the calls related to flash floods that struck after drains failed to cope with the huge volume of water.

Hants Fire Control tweeted: "It has been an unprecedented night of flooding in Southampton and the surrounding areas due to the storm, which has also brought multiple lightning strikes and resulting fires."

At Bridge Road, Itchen, firefighters were called to a fully-submerged car from which the occupants had managed to escape.

In Hawkers Close, Totton, a lightning strike damaged a chimney, resulting in parts of the stack falling into the garden.