Heavy Rain Causes Flooding Chaos

25 September 2012, 08:46 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Heavy rain's caused flooding on roads across the North East ahead of the main morning rush to work.

Durham and Northumbria Police issued warnings about the driving conditions.

A Durham Police spokeswoman said:
"Due to persistent rain throughout the night, many roads in Durham and Darlington have been affected by flooding and some are currently impassable.''

Flooding affected the A19 around Wingate, the A66 Sadberge to Cleveland, as well as smaller roads around Derwentside, Bishop Auckland and Sedgefield.

Northumbria Police Chief Inspector Sarah Pitt said:
"Acting on the information from our partners, we are getting extra officers out to the areas that are most affected to offer reassurance and support for local people.

We continue to advise residents that might experience flooding to get advice from the relevant agencies and to be as prepared as possible.

Anyone caught out by the rain and on the roads should stay calm and avoid any flooded roads and areas where possible.''


The A1058 Coast Road's had to be shut in both directions under the railway bridge near the Wills Building while a wall's knocked down to relieve water pressure.

Flooding affected major routes including the A1 northbound between the Coal House roundabout and Lobley Hill at Gateshead, the A19 around the Testos roundabout in South Tyneside and smaller routes in North Tyneside.

In Morpeth, Northumberland, some people were evacuated from their homes as floodwater rose.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said:
"Residents in an area of Morpeth are being evacuated as a precaution. We are working with the local authority to take them to an alternative location.''

The Environment Agency said parts of Yorkshire and the North East had experienced a month's rain in just 24 hours.

Network Rail reported there were no train services between Newcastle and Edinburgh because of the heavy rain, and passengers would be diverted via Carlisle.