Thunder, hail and floods: it must be summer in Edinburgh

The south and west of the capital suffered the worst of the conditions, with streets flooding after a downpour in the afternoon. Up to 40 homes in the Morningside area were said to be damaged.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service helped people stranded in their cars to safety as they attempted to clear the streets.

Water levels reached as high as car windows in some areas.

One of the worst-hit areas was Balcarres Street in Morningside, which was submerged beneath more than three feet of water.

Two men were trapped in their Volkswagen Transporter as they tried to drive up the street.

Painters and decorators Lee Craig, 26, and Shaun Robertson, 22, were left shivering in their work van as the water rose.

Mr Robertson said: "It was just torrential - it came down like no one's business.

"The water was coming up in the van. I thought we could have drowned. Then the engine cut off. It was smoking."

Local resident Katherine Tunnah, 33, had been at home with her two young children, Alexandra and Alistair, when the deluge began.

"I came in from the garden and saw the water streaming into the hallway. It ran all the way through into the kitchen. We did our best to block the doorway using towels.

"I looked out to the street and I could see cars and rubbish bins floating by. I've never seen the like of it."

Firefighters in specialist wading gear battled to pump water out of the street.

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said of her flat: "It's totally ruined, we are going to have to move out until it's fixed."

Other residents in the street claimed that a similar incident had happened eight years ago and blamed the flooding on blocked drains.

Other streets that experienced flooding included Colinton Road, Allan Park Road, Eltringham Terrace and Cultins Road.

Last night the Met Office issued a flood warning for the eastern half of Scotland for today.