Homes swamped by torrential rain

CCTV footage shows water spurting from a drain

Engineers are inspecting the damage to roads in a Yorkshire town after a night of torrential rain.

About three inches of rain fell in the space of just a few hours in Scarborough, leaving homes swamped and roads closed.

In one road, drivers were forced to dodge a five-feet high spout of water that was being forced out of a drain.

Fire and police services were inundated with calls as the downpour continued and sandbags were brought in to shore up some areas.

'Sheer force'

Engineers are now inspecting the damage to roads where surfaces cracked under the water pressure.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "The amount of rain was extraordinary.

"The drains in the town were overflowing and in some areas the drain covers became dislodged.

"There was a drain which was spurting four or five feet into the air from the sheer force of the water that was flowing into it.

"I have never seen anything like it and it led to a lot of calls into the force control room."

Emergency calls

A spokesman for the North Yorkshire Fire Service said 116 calls for help were made from people across the county.

He said: "We had a very busy night and were called to numerous homes and businesses which were hit by flooding.

"Nobody was hurt and there was no real structural damage but a lot of people are facing very busy mornings mopping up the water."

Rain is continuing in the area but flooding has subsided.