Floods force hundreds from homes

Torrential downpours that have flooded some parts of the UK with more than a month's rainfall in 24 hours should ease off throughout the day, weather experts said on Wednesday. Hundreds of people spent the night in temporary accommodation after a second day of heavy rain brought flooding and travel chaos. More than 300 properties have flooded across the country since Sunday, including in Morpeth, Durham, Chester-le-Street and Stockton on Tees, the Environment Agency said. The first major storm of the autumn is set to ease off by tonight, but with showers expected across the UK for much of today, 91 flood warnings and 136 less severe flood alerts remain in place. Emergency services dealt with hundreds of call-outs yesterday as people were left stranded by floodwaters and overflowing rivers surged into homes and businesses. Elderly residents at a council care home in North Yorkshire, northern England, had to be carried to safety by firefighters yesterday after it became swamped by 3ft of water. Roads and railways ground to a halt because of the rain and flooding, in some parts of the country. The Met Office said an area of low pressure measuring 973 millibars had been recorded near the coast of the north east of England - the lowest in the UK for September since 1981. Weathermen said Ravensworth in North Yorkshire had seen the highest amount of rain, with 131mm recorded since the start of the heavy downpours on Sunday night. Heavy rain and strong winds are forecast to return to some southern areas with 20mm to 40mm (0.8in to 1.6in) likely in places today. The Environment Agency warned that river levels will continue to rise through today along the River Ouse in Yorkshire and the River Severn, which could cause further flooding as the water moves downstream. Communities in Yorkshire, the North West and north Wales were urged to remain on their guard for further floods.