AN emergency operation swung into action yesterday as people desperately tried to hold back the River Gaunless from their homes.

The river reached its highest point so far at South Church and West Auckland, near Bishop Auckland and police and fire crews at South Church, frantically worked with residents to create a barricade between the river and homes.

A lorry-load of clay was trucked to the area to create a hastily-constructed earth bank which held back the waters.

But there was little else people could do other than brace themselves for the worst.

A fleet of buses were parked nearby ready to take people to the emergency centre at King James Community College, Bishop Auckland.

Resident Jill Walton said: "Everyone has worked like mad today, especially the police and council, but it's the Environment Agency who should be doing something.

Five homes were flooded by Dene Beck, in Eldon Lane. For Sarah Hope, it was the second time this year. "The water's up to my windows," she said.

June Pull was in a similar situation in West Auckland.

Her home had been flooded in the summer, but by midday she could only watch as the waters reached the path in front of her house.

Eddie Scrivens, director of finance at Wear Valley District Council said their efforts were being hampered by the disappearance of sandbags.

"I would ask people not to pinch them, and if they need sandbags to make a request and we will respond."

In Teesdale, flooding was reported in Gainford and police closed off a stretch of the A67 through the village. There was also flooding on the sliproad from the A66 to Bowes, but the road remained open throughout the day.

In Darlington, the rising Skerne caused problems in the Haughton Road and Hundens Lane area, partly due to water being unable to drain into the river.

Environment Agency workers were also deployed to warn businesses in the John Street area of potential floods.

Fire services were last night pumping water from Victoria Embankment in Darlington, as the Skerne continued to rise. Also in the area, Croft Bridge and Dinsdale Bridge were closed, as were the A6072 at Heighington, the Sedgefield back road and Haughton Road. Others were described as "passable with care".

In Aycliffe Village, businesses and homes near the river village were expected to be flooded if the water continued to rise.

Although the villages of Neasham, Croft and Hurworth were not so severely affected as in previous days, the Heighington area continued to be badly affected.

About a quarter of a mile from the nearby settlement of Houghton-le-Side, a landslip closed the C55, a back road.

Woodham Comprehensive in Newton Aycliffe will be closed today and tomorrow because of flooding.