It was a big day for this part of the world yesterday. People who live here will remember it for many years to come - the day of the deluge.

Millions of people were affected: stuck in villages turned into islands; evacuated from their devastated homes; going nowhere on roads turned into waterways. The A1 in North Yorkshire was a river and remains closed for a 40-mile stretch.

So what did the national papers make of it all?

THE SUN
Not a mention on Page 1. Page 15 lead.
Verdict : Damp squib

THE GUARDIAN
Nothing on Page 1. Page 4 lead.
Verdict : Wishy-washy.

DAILY STAR
Nothing on Page 1 - leads instead on Simon Cowell calling in a faith healer to free him of evil female spirits. The north's floods make a lead on Page 4.
Verdict : Limp as a wet lettuce

The Northern Echo: Nationals

DAILY EXPRESS
A floods blurb on Page 1 - hurrah! And a spread on Page 5. Mind you, the Express leads on weather stories nearly every day - even when there isn't a real story, so why not this time? Verdict : Not gushing with praise but a bit better than the others

DAILY MIRROR
Nothing on Page 1. Page 15 lead.
Verdict : H2Oh dear

DAILY MAIL
Nothing on Page 1. Page 11 lead.
Verdict : What a shower

THE TIMES
A paragraph on Page 1.  Page 11 lead.
Verdict : Water disappointment

DAILY TELEGRAPH
Nothing on Page 1. Page 4 picture story - not even the lead.
Verdict : Wet, wet, wet

THE INDEPENDENT
Page 1 picture!!! Full Page 4 spread.
Verdict : Floody hell - some news sense at last!

Imagine the national coverage if Kent or Surrey had been under water. Think it might have been the splash?

It's why local papers matter.