Flash floods have brough chaos to parts of the North-East this afternoon.
Homes in Teesdale are under threat now as villages in Mickleton, Cotherstone and Eggleston are battered by severe downpours.
Hundreds of homes are also without electricity.
In Newcastle more than 12 inches of water fell in a few minutes, blocking roads and leaving motorists stranded.
And in Consett an embankment has collapsed on a house, trapping a man inside, after a torrential thunderstorm hit a village.
Debris from the embankment fell onto a house which was undergoing renovation, briefly trapping a workmen inside the building before he could be rescued by firefighters. Police have now closed a five-mile stretch of the A68 in County Durham as a result.
The downpour hit the village of Rowley, near Consett, at around 2.30pm.
Insp Eddie Bell said the weather conditions were "unbelievable" and at one time the lightning strikes were so bad people at the scene were taking refuge in their cars.
Severe local flooding washed away the side of the road where the old bridge carries the Sustrans cycle track across the A68, near the site of the old Rowley Railway station, causing the old stonework to collapse against the former stationmaster's house.
The build-up of debris caused a dam, sending the floodwaters into the house.
At this time it is not known how the force of the floodwater has affected the A68 itself, and structural engineers are on their way to carry out a full investigation.
As a result the A68 was closed between Lanchester and Castleside - and looks likkely to be closed for "a considerable amount of time".
Diversions were put in place, but have since been halted because of further flooding, particularly in the Lanchester area, and police are advising drivers to stay well away from the area until further notice.
Do you have photos or video of the flash floods, if so contact the newsdesk on 01325 505065.
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