WHITBY and Saltburn were hit by a tidal surge on Friday afternoon.

Fast-flowing water flooded Pier Road in Whitby, washing bins and rubbish with it past the restaurants, arcades and pubs.

Rachel Russell, who was in Whitby just before the tide reached its highest point, said the businesses on New Quay Road - including Oxfam, a betting shop and Trenchers fish and chip restaurant - all appeared to have flood gates or sandbags in place which looked to be holding back the sea water. 

She said: "I was there before high tide, but we began to see a rapid change in sea level. All the emergency services were there."

JamieLee Chambers, who was working in The Magpie cafe in Whitby said: "We were expecting it, but I've never seen it that bad before. When it came crashing in people were running, but it knocked a young girl and a couple off their feet."

In Saltburn, motorists had to navigate flood waters and debris after rough seas surged onto the seafront.

Volunteers from Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team were called out to help the public in Sandsend.

The Northern Echo:

Sandsend seafront. Picture: Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team

A spokesman said: "Fourteen members of the team, many of them trained and equipped for water rescues, were in attendance in two shifts.

"Other mountain rescue teams from Scarborough, Swaledale and Calder Valley were in attendance helping with flooding at Whitby and Scarborough along with personnel from the Coastguard Police and Fire Brigade.

"The early morning tides were slightly lower than predicted and passed without incident, but the afternoon tides, backed by the strong winds, did cause some flooding in Sandsend with one house being flooded.

"The waves were described as being highly dangerous and causing spray to reach the height of a three-storey building."

In Scarborough's Foreshore Road, meanwhile, which runs along the seafront, the road soon became covered in sand, seaweed and rocks as huge waves battered the coast. Around the corner on Scarborough's North Bay, waves reached a number of businesses. 

Despite many warnings from police and council officials to stay away from coastal paths and promenades where there are large waves, a number of people were seen near Scarborough seafront being caught out by waves from the tidal surge.

A number of search and rescue teams were in place in the towns to help with any rescues and the clear-up operation. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue set up Bronze Command Hubs in strategic locations as part of a multi-agency response.

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