A newsboy said heavy rains caused the worst flooding he has seen in the 17 years he has run his shop.
Video showed a torrent of water gushing down Station Road in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday night.
Nitan Shah said: "In 17 years, yesterday was the worst day. Four to five inches in the shop. It was completely unexpected."
It followed a yellow weather warning from the Met Office for thunderstorms covering the east of England.
