Flood fears ease as rains slow

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A total of five people have died in accidents related to the rains and the North East is currently the region most seriously hit by the storms. Flash floods have also hit parts of Yorkshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Forecasters have warned the rain will continue to fall in parts of Britain, especially the east coast, but said it will be random showers rather than the persistent rain of recent days.

More than 400 people were evacuated from their homes in Morpeth, Northumberland, after the town was "virtually cut off" when the River Wansbeck burst its banks causing the worst flooding since the 1960s.

The situation was so serious an RAF helicopter was called in to help pluck several stranded residents to safety. But Northumberland County Council member Andrew Tebbutt said the situation has "eased considerably" overnight.

At the height of the floods, Morpeth High Street was under 2ft of water. Residents spent the night at two rescue centres located in the north and the south of the town.

Councillor Tebbutt, who is jointly in charge of emergency planning, said: "The situation has eased overnight considerably.

"Fortunately it is not raining at the moment as it did most of the night. If we get torrential rain again like we did yesterday then it will re-flood very quickly, the ground is saturated." He said around 1,000 homes were affected by the flooding and around 400 people were evacuated.

"There were a considerable number of people who self-evacuated so the number will be higher," he added.

MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said that while Britain was over the worst of the current storms, there would be more rain on the east coast. Forecaster Tom Tobler said: "There will be more rain today, but it will be showers rather than the persistent rain of the last few days. It will be mostly down the east side of the UK. In some places there will be heavy bursts of rain."