Flooding widespread in South Durham and North Yorkshire (From The Northern Echo)

Flooding widespread in South Durham and North Yorkshire

8:44am Tuesday 1st December 2009

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A MAJOR clean-up operation was under way last night after two days of heavy rain brought misery to parts of the region.

Homes were flooded and motorists left stranded after several inches of rain fell in 48 hours on rural areas of North Yorkshire.

A young couple and their baby had to be pulled to safety by firefighters after their car became trapped by rising floodwater on the A684 at Morton-on-Swale, near Northallerton, on Sunday morning.

A Mercedes and a Vauxhall Astra were still stuck in the water where their occupants had left them yesterday.

The road remained blocked last night.

Fifteen people were evacuated from the Nidderdale Caravan Park, in Knaresborough, after the River Nidd burst its banks.

A boat was used to ferry residents to safety as a precaution as water levels rose early yesterday.

The residents were allowed back to their caravans after the water receded.

Pensioner Mary Curry told how water gushed through the doors and walls of her bungalow in Askrigg, near Hawes.

Firefighters spent about five hours pumping water from the small estate on Sunday night.

Officials have told the 78-year-old retired headteacher it could be up to five months before she can move back into her home.

“I could cry,” she said.

“It came in so fast – we did not have time to stop it.”

Homes in Fremington, near Reeth, were also flooded.

Several feet of water blocked the road at Redmire, near Leyburn.

The water forced one couple travelling in the dale to spend the night at the village pub, The Bolton Arms.

Roads in Catterick Garrison and between Skeeby and Scotch corner were also blocked.

More than 500 sandbags were issued to residents by Hambleton District Council, while Richmondshire District Council handed out 800 bags.

Many minor roads in the area were closed or only passable with care.

Elsewhere in the county, homes and businesses in Pateley Bridge, near Harrogate, and Scarborough, were flooded.

In York, the River Ouse was set to peak at 4.5m above normal levels, the York Flood Group said.

In Darlington, Blackwell was closed on Sunday due to flooding.

Pumps were used to lower rising water levels at Kent Bridge, in Neasham.

Baydale Beck also burst its banks, flooding nearby fields.

In Cockerton, there was concern over the weekend about flooding due to rising water levels, but the risk had subsided yesterday.

Firefighters spent more than eight hours pumping water away from properties in Albert Road, Stockton.

Further flooding was reported at the town’s Norton School, in Berkshire Road.

Elsewhere in the region, waves crashed up to 60ft over Seaham Lighthouse yesterday creating a spectacular sight.

Last night, 58 flood warnings were in place across the North-East and North Yorkshire.

According to forecasters, the downpours could make it one of the wettest Novembers on record. The month has already had the fifth highest amount of rainfall on record and is set to climb further up the rankings when figures for the past week are added.

A Met Office spokesman said November 2009 could be the UK’s third or fourth wettest since records began in 1914.

‘‘There’s been a lot of rain in parts of the country over the past few days and it’s possible it could end up being the third or fourth wettest November on record when the figures are averaged out,’’ he said.

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