Rothbury floods: Homes evacuated as Storm Babet strikes

Homes have been evacuated after a river burst its banks in a town following heavy rain during Storm Babet.

Residents close to the River Coquet in Rothbury, Northumberland, were told to leave their homes on Friday evening.

Some houses have been flooded with local people saying their belongings had been "washed away".

Emergency services, including firefighters, mountain rescue volunteers and the coastguard, are due to remain in the area.

It comes as a weather warning for heavy rain remains in place across swathes of northern England, including much of the north-east.

Some roads in the town have been cut off by flood water, while elsewhere water levels were reported to be close to overwhelming floodgates.

Councillor Steven Bridgett, who represents Rothbury on Northumberland County Council, said: "There has been a fantastic response. We've got the resources that we needed.

"We've got those residents out that we didn't want to be particularly rescuing through the night."

Mr Bridgett said water levels had continued to rise fast and earlier urged locals to make the necessary preparations for evacuation.

On Friday afternoon, he said river water levels had reached 2.75 metres (9ft), much higher than the forecasted peak of 2.4 metres (7.8ft).

"We are asking people to leave their properties at the Maltings... [and] residents are leaving their properties at the riverside," he said.

"We have set up a multi-incident room in the Jubilee Hall, which is going to be the base for the police, fire service, and all of the other partners helping."

Many affected residents were provided alternative accommodation or were staying with friends and family, he said.

He praised the efforts of businesses and locals who rushed to support those worst hit.

Some schools in the flood-hit town were advised to finish classes earlier than usual, while a number of businesses closed.

Rothbury resident Chris Brooking told the BBC the rain had been "pretty constant" since about 12:00 BST.

He said some homes at risk of becoming overwhelmed by water were on the "wrong side of the floodgates".

Another resident Paul Watson, whose home had flooded, said fencing had been washed away along with "a lot of people's items".

"It's burst the river banks and come into my property.

"But we're all safe. Rothbury bands together and we can't thank people enough."

Northumberland County Council said it was "working to see what needs to be done over the coming hours to keep residents safe".

A spokesperson added: "We will be providing all the support we can over the coming hours and days."

The Environment Agency said river levels had peaked below the town's flood defences between 18:00 and 21:00.

A spokesperson said upstream water levels were "steadily reducing" but the main flood gate would remain closed for the time being.

In 2008, about 50 homes in the town were damaged and cars were washed away when water levels rose dramatically.

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