TORRENTIAL rain caused misery and disruption across the region yesterday as emergency workers battled to keep the transport network running and services open.

Homes were flooded, roads were closed and rivers and streams burst their banks as up to five inches of rain fell on the North-East and North Yorkshire in less than 24 hours.

Firefighters were called in to pump water away from the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, where flooding caused the cancellation of all planned surgery.

Motorists faced chaos with scores of roads closed, including the A1 northbound at Catterick Village, in North Yorkshire, which shut for around two hours yesterday (MONDAY) afternoon while fire crews pumped water from the carriageway.

The A66 was closed westbound near Bowes, County Durham, while the A19 northbound near Middlesbrough was also shut last night.

Trains travelling through the region on the East Coast Main Line were reduced to five mph.

Numerous homes were flooded, including properties in Carlin How, East Cleveland, and Stokesley, Thirsk and Knaresborough, in North Yorkshire.

Fylingdales, on the North York Moors, was named as the wettest place in the UK with five inches falling in one day.

The heavy rain was set to continue last night (MONDAY) prompting fears of further flooding, however forecasters predicted an improving picture on Tuesday.