Storm sweeps in with more misery to follow

10:10am Saturday 6th September 2008

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WEATHER forecasters were last night warning of widespread flooding as the first storm of late summer hit the region.

Heavy rain arrived in the North-East and North Yorkshire yesterday after causing chaos in the South.

With further heavy rain predicted throughout the weekend and the ground in many areas already sodden, the Environment Agency said flooding was a strong possibility.

The Government agency is monitoring streams and rivers in the region likely to burst their banks.

A flood watch warning was issued yesterday afternoon for the Derwent, Team, Don rivers, their tributaries, and south bank tributaries of the Tyne Estuary.

Pumping stations were being checked and watercourses were being cleared in readiness.

Clare Austin, from Meteo- Group, previously the Press Association weather centre, said: “It’s not looking good at all for Saturday.

“We are expecting it to be quite unsettled in the North- East, with showers, longer periods of rain and the risk of thunder.”

She said further rain was predicted tomorrow, with the weather picking up on Monday.

A spokeswoman for the Met Office added: “The ground is already fairly saturated across much of the country following the rainfall this summer.

“This heavy rainfall is going to collect on the ground rather than drain away.”

Victims of the weather included the Middlesbrough Town Meal, that was due to be held today in Crown Square.

The food will instead be redistributed to some of the schools which donated the produce, officials said.

The Festival of Japan, scheduled to take place this weekend at Durham University Botanic Gardens, was also hit, with organisers deciding to relocate to the city’s Oriental Museum.

Organisers of the 229th Wolsingham Show said the event would go ahead despite the rain. However, visitors were advised to bring their wellies.

Show secretary Gordon Dobson said: “We have no plans to cancel and we are going ahead as normal.

“We are getting calls from all over the place from people asking if it’s still on and they are pleased to hear it is going ahead.”

Elsewhere in the UK, numerous severe weather and flood warnings were put in place yesterday in the South- West, the Midlands and Wales after more than 24 hours of rain.

A number of roads were under water in Gloucestershire and a road in Gwent was closed following a landslide.

The AA reported a higher than normal number of breakdowns as cars ran into trouble after driving through floodwater.

For details on flood warnings in your area, call the Environment Agency floodline on 0845-988-1188.