THE Environment Agency has this morning downgraded a flood warning issued last night for properties along the riverside in Durham city.

Officials from the Environment Agency had been monitoring levels on the River Wear after yesterday's torrential rain.

They said flooding was forecast to affect properties near Elvet Waterside and around Baths Bridge, under New Elvet and Old Elvet Bridges.

The flood warning was removed shortly after midnight.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "The risk of flooding from the River Wear is now reduced.

"The level of the River Wear at Durham Riverside has begun to fall and will not rise any further or cause any further flooding of property."

Lower level warnings, flood alerts, are still in place on the lower reaches of the Wear from Escomb to Chester-le-Street, and the River Tees from Middleton St George to the Tees Barrage.

Floodgates were closed last night in Yarm, Neasham, Stockton and Croft.