WEATHER forecasters are holding out hope that the region could get some respite from the torrential rain that has been lashing the UK.

The Met Office said yesterday it was expecting 40mm of rain to fall across the North of England and parts of Scotland in the next 24 hours.

However, the North-East and North-Yorkshire was expected to escape most of the heavier downpours as things start to dry up for the weekend.

Lighter showers are expected to continue until mid afternoon today with drier spells and higher temperatures expected tomorrow and Sunday.

May’s downpours, together with April’s record-breaking rainfall, have caused some localised flooding and a number of problems for the region.

Fire crews rescued about 350 sheep trapped by the fastrising waters of the River Ure at Middleham Bridge, by the Middleham to Leyburn Road in the North-Yorkshire Dales.

Meanwhile, in Darlington, the waterlogged pitch at Feethams, home of Darlington Cricket Club, attracted the attention of a number of ducks.

The town’s Stressholme Golf Course and driving range were closed because of flooding, although the clubhouse remained open.

An inspection is due this morning, to determine whether the facilities can reopen.

And the River Skerne, which flows through Darlington town centre, was swollen by the prolonged rainfall.

A Durham Police spokeswoman said: “We are not aware of any particular problems with the weather, however, drivers are reminded to moderate their speed during adverse conditions and be particularly alert for large pools of standing water on the roads.”

However, the disappointing weather has replenished Yorkshire Water’s borehole stocks which are now at normal levels with much of the country still in drought.

Only ten weeks ago, the boreholes were 20 per cent down on normal levels for the time of year.

However, borehole levels are now where they should be, with overall stocks boosted by more than 13 billion litres of water since the start of spring.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “After two years of exceptionally dry weather, the continuous rain in April will have started to restore water levels below ground and has given us a better start to the summer than anticipated.

“But it will take more time and more rain to undo the effects of two dry winters on groundwater stores.”