ABOUT 400 shoppers queued for a bargain at a furniture showroom last night.

More than 100 pieces of furniture were reduced to half price following Sunday's torrential rain, which wrecked the Middlesbrough showroom of Barker and Stonehouse.

The cost of the devastation, which the retailer said was caused when the roofs of the super store were weakened by the excess of rainwater, was put at about £200,000.

Almost a quarter of the store's stock was damaged.

The store remained closed until the start of the emergency sale last night, being held by order of insurance assessors.

Retail director James Barker last night praised his 30-strong staff.

Mr Barker said: "They just worked flat out, some even working on Sunday to get the store back to something of what it was like. We can't praise them enough.''