A fundraiser has been launched to help The Cheeky Bean Café recover after flooding damaged the Shepton Mallet High Street business during Monday evening's sudden thunderstorm.

The cafe was among the local businesses hit on Monday, 22 June, as heavy rain, thunder and lightning moved through the town. The storm also caused localised flooding and power cuts, with power cut information showing hundreds of homes affected and supplies expected to be restored by 7pm.

A GoFundMe page has now been set up to help the cafe recover from the damage. The fundraiser had reached £1,730 at the time of writing, with 85 donations made towards the appeal.

The appeal says: "This is devastating for any business but as a small business with a young family to care for and staff to pay this is absolutely heart breaking,

"The Cheeky Bean Café is a much-loved part of the Shepton Mallet community, and the recent flooding has been devastating. If you've ever enjoyed a coffee, a meal, or a friendly chat here, please consider making a donation to help them recover from the storm damage. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help get this wonderful local business back on its feet. Let's come together and support a café that has given so much to our community."

The violent thunderstorm came on the same day that the wider Mendip area was placed under a red extreme heat warning for later this week.

The Met Office red warning for extreme heat is in place from 9am on Wednesday, 24 June, until 9pm on Thursday, 25 June. Hot and humid weather is expected, with serious health impacts considered likely as temperatures climb sharply.

Residents and businesses are being advised to keep an eye on official updates, avoid travelling through floodwater, and plan around the hottest parts of the day later this week.

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