Lawyers at Mello, Jones and Martin had to scramble to save legal files and computers after yesterday's downpour hit their Church Street building while workers had part of the roof off.

The deluge, which saw three and a half inches of rain hit Hamilton in a couple of hours, poured through the four storey building and reached the ground floor.

Managing Partner Andrew Martin said: "It certainly felt like all the rain came in here. "

He said workers were re-tiling and a section of the roof was exposed in the property, trusts, and estates group when the lunchtime downpour began.

"It percolated all the way down. It was a torrential downpour."

He said he could not estimate the extent of damage but said clients files had not been affected and anything at risk was moved by staff.

Some of the 55 staff were sent home as the office closed while others laboured at bagging up documents.

Mr. Martin said it should be business as usual today but it was possible some sections might need until tomorrow to be back in action.

He said: "Certainly it was unexpected situation. I think everyone handled it well. It was one of those things, no-one could have predicted the extent of the rain. It will be up to the landlord to sort it out with the contractor."

Bermuda Weather Service Director Roger Williams said the rain had not affected the whole Island with just one tenth of an inch falling in the east end.

However the area did witness a water spout which lasted for five minutes near Clearwater Beach.

A waterspout is thin cloud of tiny droplets forming under a cloud over warm water.

Bermuda Weather Service meteorologist Elizabeth Nelson said they are common in tropical areas prone to thunderstorms such as Bermuda in summer.