Diners were sent scurrying as water cascaded through a ceiling at Oxford Stadium in Blackbird Leys during last night’s heavy storm.

Ceiling tiles crashed on to tables and over the floor as flash flood water came flooding down.

The storm caused the greyhound meeting to be abandoned as security staff cleared the building of the near 1,000 attendance.

Punters huddled in any shelter they could fid to get out of the rain and then found ankle deep floods as they tried to get to the car park John Gaisford, who was at the meeting, said: “The greyhound track resembled a river during the downpour that occurred around 9pm.”

Following an inspection of the roof by a staff member, a blockage was found in one of the main gulleys.

Today’s meeting goes ahead, as does Tuesday’s meeting — William Hill Cesarewitch final,which is being broadcast live on Sky TV.

There were no reports of any other serious damage across the rest of the city following the flash flooding.