12-year-old rescued from floods

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Flooding threatened several homes in the city

A 12-year-old girl had to be rescued from her home in County Tyrone after it flooded during heavy rainfall.

A number of properties in Wallace Heights in Magheramason were damaged when a nearby stream overflowed.

Across the north west the clean-up is continuing after homes and roads were flooded in the downpour.

The girl's grandmother, Heather Thompson, said her son-in-law waded through the water and carried her out of the house on his back.

"The water was coming gushing through the house.

"We were out at the shop at the time and were stuck over there, and couldn't get back in again.

"All I wanted was to get in to her," said Mrs Thompson.

In Londonderry, residents in Old City Close stopped traffic on the main Letterkenny Road in order to protect 14 homes from flooding.

There were fears that passing cars would push water into the homes.

"It's terrible that we've had to go to the length of actually blocking the road, but as residents we were left with no choice," said Sandra Gale.

"In our back gardens the water was right up to the level of the drains and the manholes, so it was coming from both sides.

"Houses were in serious danger of being flooded. So it's better than nothing, but at this stage a wee bit too little, too late."

The clean-up operation in Derry on Tuesday night

Sinn Fein councillor Patricia Logue, who was at the scene, said there are now fears for the stability of a wall opposite Old City Close.

"Our city engineer has been out there this morning, and he is satisfied that the barrier put round the wall at the moment will keep it secure if anything does fall down.

"There is very little water coming out of the wall now compared with last night.

"The Rivers Agency are in contact with the engineer at the moment, and they are going to be looking at it today," she said.

Keith Craddon from the Roads Service said they had men working on the Letterkenny Road as soon as possible.

"We worked until I think about 2 o'clock this morning, and managed to clear the flooding from the Old City Court.

"We have had men at that wall, we cleared one culvert behind the wall and we have pumps set up as well to clear the water that's accumulated behind it," said Mr Craddon.

The Glenshane Road, Ballyquinn Road, Berryhill Road and Victoria Road were also badly affected.

Three houses were flooded in Magheramason in County Tyrone, and in Burndennet people were advised to evacuate their homes as water levels rose.

DUP councillor John Donnell said flooding is a recurring problem for families living near the River Dennett.

"The authorities do what they can to keep the grid clear, but debris coming down the burn blocks the grid.

"There would need to be more attention paid upstream.

"These families are in a terrible situation," he said.

Philip Mehaffey from the Rivers Agency said they responded to emergencies as quickly as possible.

"We were out checking grills beforehand, but the problem with rainfall of such intensity is that flooding can happen very quickly.

"The grill at Magheramason was checked at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and it was clear, but the flooding ensued a very short time after that, with the higher flow lifting debris and depositing it on the grill," he said.