Paper merchant Lunnons, part of the Robert Horne Group, found its Lewes sales office under four feet of water following the worst flooding that Southern England has seen in more than 40 years.


The flooding also brought a number of East Sussex printing companies to a standstill last week, with those in Lewes and Uckfield being the worst hit.


Lunnons put into action an emergency group recovery plan after its first row of stock was submerged in the flood water.


"It happened extremely quickly," said Robert Horne commercial director Bob Latham. "The office staff at Lewes were given 20 minutes to vacate the building just after 4pm on Thursday (12 October). If Lunnons had not been part of Robert Horne, it would have been devastating for them.


"We are ensuring stock back-up from our warehouses in London and Northampton."


Lunnons Managing director Barry Fowler said: "At least 800 to 900 pallets of paper have been ruined. Our sales office is being run from Eastleigh while Lunnons HQ is camping out at our Tonbridge branch.


"Our first floor offices have been totally condemned by the insurers, and 12 lorries are having to be overhauled. The damage could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds."


Story by Andy Scott and Eloise Seddon