FLASH flooding caused chaos over parts of the region yesterday, as bolts of lightning struck trains and caused a bridge to crumble.
Torrential rain swept part of a bridge away and trapped a workman in a house, while terrified onlookers were forced to shelter in their cars to avoid lightning flashes.
One senior police officer described the weather conditions in part of North West Durham between 2.30 and 3.30pm as "unbelievable".
Just minutes before the torrential showers, the area had been basking in warm sunshine. But then the skies turned black before the rain thundered down accompanied by forked lightning.
Police closed the A68 in both directions after a thunderstorm hit the Rowley Bridge area near Consett, causing part of the bridge to collapse.
Severe local flooding caused by the run-off of water washed away the side of the road at the point where the old bridge carries the Sustrans Coast to Coast cycle track across the A68.
The floodwater cut into the east side of the road under the old stonework which had collapsed against a house which workman Maurice Ramsden was renovating.
The debris that piled up outside increased the flooding, sending water gushing into the house, trapping Mr Ramsden inside for a short time.
Mr Ramsden described how he saw falling masonry from the bridge hurtling towards him.
He said: "I ran like the clappers, into the house and upstairs just before the masonry landed against the front door.
"The downstairs of the house was completely flooded as water poured into the house.
"I could not get back down, I had to be helped out of an upstairs window."
Insp Eddie Bell said the weather conditions were "unbelievable" and at one time the lightning strikes were so bad people at the scene were taking refuge in their cars.
After a short while the A68 was re-opened as a single carriageway, but structural engineers were carrying out an investigation to see whether the force of the floodwater had caused permanent damage.
Firefighters were inundated with calls to clear floodwater in numerous other locations across County Durham including Consett, Burnhope, Craghead, Lanchester, Tow Law, Castleside and parts of Durham City.
Meanwhile in Walker, Newcastle, youngsters played chicken with waves of water as motorists desperately tried to dodge the flooded Benfield Road.
A nearby homeowner said the water had caused damage to his garden.
He said: "There are always problems on this road and also on the Coast road. They flood all the time.
"Our garden has been destroyed and it’s been sent spilling out of the front of our property."
Page 2 - Hell on the rails >>
