Spain floods: Trapped drivers heard banging on car windows begging to be rescued

Cars lay abandoned, including many tossed on top of each other like toys. Steel shutters, usually impenetrable to attack, remain wedged half-open and distorted in shape. Trees can be seen felled and debris of all kinds, including thick mud, remains on roads and pavements.

Nearly 48 hours have now passed since first hit Valencia and other parts of southern , but the trail of destruction remains fresh. And it is clear locals are still struggling to come to terms with the disaster, which officials say has claimed at least 155 lives.

Cristina Cocinar, 31, stood holding her five-year-old daughter Triana, while looking out on a partly-destroyed bridge on the edge of her neighbourhood. Two cars remain abandoned on it, including one that is partly hanging over the edge and looks like it has been blown up.

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But it is not even the most shocking sight she has witnessed since the hit. She told me: "I have been lucky as my own property is on high ground, but people I know have lost loved ones, especially older people."

"I got stuck at work and had to walk ten kilometres back. I saw a corpse covered with blankets and people were in the streets trying to rescue what was left of their businesses. The water arrived in a matter of five minutes."

"Search and rescue teams are still taking people's bodies out of garages and ground floors." Cristina added: "We're worried it will happen again. My sister lives on the ground floor so we're making plans to be able to get her out."

Juan Miguel Mateo, 43, yesterday walked across the bridge, which now has a huge dip in the middle, with his seven-year-old daughter Carla. He said: "There was no warning and no time to escape. The water just kept rising. It was terrifying, but we are OK."

Alex Casabam, 28, feels lucky to be alive after hearing how a friend's parent had to be saved by rescuers who wrapped a rope around his hips after he became trapped by rising water.

He said: "Thankfully they were saved, but they said they could hear people hitting their car windows under the water while trying to escape." The salesman added: "I think the number of dead will rise and the repairs will take months. "It all happened at once. We were given a warning on our phones at about 7pm, but it was already too late. It's shocking."

Despite the gloom, the fightback has already begun, with residents, including some armed with brooms and shovels, today taking to the streets in a bid to help with the clean-up operation. Among them is British builder Michael Gill, who is operating an emergency call-out service for ex-pats.

He began receiving calls for help almost immediately after the disaster and was yesterday out helping customers, including many elderly residents. He said: "We're doing an emergency call-out service for any English people that don't speak Spanish very well. We'll come and help them out with their storm damage or flooding.

"It's devastating for everyone in this area. People are still in shock and despair, but we're doing what we can to help. It's non-stop at the moment."