HOMEOWNERS were this week counting the cost of the storm-force winds that battered County Durham.

The region was hit by ferocious winds and driving rain over the past few days, leaving a trail of devastation behind.

In Darlington town centre on Monday, a chimney stack fell 30ft into the street after it was blown from above the Stagecoach offices in Tubwell Row.

Residents of neighbouring villages Middleton St George and Middleton One Row were left without power for two days as Northern Electric engineers battled to restore supplies.

Householders woke up to scenes of carnage caused by 100mph winds on Saturday, with Darlington one of the worst affected areas in the North.

Across the town, chimney stacks were blown off, trees uprooted, debris was flying around the streets and scores of homes damaged.

In Coniscliffe Road, a giant tree came crashing down in the grounds of a home.

Police and the council were called to deal with the situation and warn motorists of the danger.

The fall-out of the gales saw debris strewn along Carmel Road North, where trees had fallen, fences were torn down and roadworks equipment demolished.

Trees crashed down in Woodcrest Road and Elmfield Terrace, while police were advising drivers to take care on McMullen Road and Carnaby Road, where trees had partially blocked the carriageway.

In Geneva Road, a fallen tree narrowly missed ploughing into a row of parked cars.

A tree was uprooted and landed on a car in Quaker Lane, in the town centre.

Villagers breathed a sigh of relief as a rapidly rising River Tees eventually subsided, averting the threat of floods.

Water levels rose alarmingly at Croft Bridge on Saturday morning, prompting the Environment Agency to place a flood warning on the stretch of river.

Property owners at nearby Hurworth Place took precautions, placing sandbags outside their homes in a bid to cope with potential flooding.

Firefighters were also called to the nearby Croft Workingmen's Club to clear water from the flooded cellar.

Terry Kitching, of Peaceful Valley, Hurworth Place, said: "It was almost lapping up on the flood bank on the Hurworth side of the river. Another few inches and it would have been over.

Officials at Sedgefield Racecourse had to repair damage caused by the roof of the groundsman's hut being blown off on Saturday morning.

Police were forced to shut a large section of the A1(M) in both directions between Darlington and Chester-le-Street for most of Saturday as the blustery conditions made travel impossible for high-sided vehicles.

The Highways Agency said 25 lorries had overturned on the A1(M), near Darlington, and that the closure of the road was necessary to allow the vehicles to be recovered.

The Environment Agency said parts of the region experienced 100mm of rainfall in 24 hours - more than half the annual average amount for the whole of January.

With further bad weather expected, Durham County Council issued a warning about the dangers of falling trees. It urged people to think twice before going walking, horse riding or driving through wooded areas.