Torrential rain leads to flooding

Thunderstorms and torrential rain caused localised flooding and closed roads throughout north-east England on Sunday night.

The Tyne and Wear fire service was inundated with so many flood-related calls that other brigades, including one based in Scotland, had to help.

In Newton Aycliffe hailstones the size of small marbles damaged cars.

And a deluge of water swamped a public house and a row of shops in the main shopping street in Chester-le-Street.

Police condemned "foolish" motorists who drove on flooded roads and were left stranded in standing water.

As a result of flooding, a number of schools in the region were unable to open on Monday.