RESIDENTS continued to pick up the pieces after a weekend of gales caused damage across the region.

As the weather settled, villagers breathed a sigh of relief as a rapidly rising River Tees eventually subsided, averting the threat of floods.

Water levels rose alarmingly at Croft Bridge, near Darlington, on Saturday morning, prompting the Environment Agency to place a flood warning on the stretch of river.

Property owners at nearby Hurworth Place took precautions, placing sandbags outside their homes in a bid to cope with potential flooding.

Firefighters were also called to the nearby Croft Workingmen's Club to clear water from the flooded cellar.

The club could soon be home to a new caravan site, but that land was swamped and emergency services had to rescue horses from the sodden fields.

Terry Kitching, of Peaceful Valley, Hurworth Place, said: "It was almost lapping up on the flood bank on the Hurworth side of the river.

"Another few inches and it would have been over.

"The proposed caravan site at the workingmen's club was completely swamped."

Onlooker Tony Grey, of Northallerton, said on Saturday: "It's unbelievable. You can see how close it has come to going over the edge and flooding."

Meanwhile, a village on Teesside is picking up the pieces after 100mph winds caused heavy damage.

The tiny village of Wilton, in east Cleveland, saw 80ft trees uprooted, shed roofs detached and fences ripped from the ground.

Huge trees blocked roads leading into the village, with the residents left picking up the pieces last night.

Church warden Colin Walker said he had never seen damage like it in his life after gales of up to 100mph swept through the village.

An 80ft oak tree, which has stood for about 200 years, was uprooted early on Saturday morning and lay across one of the main routes through the village.

Mr Walker, who has been warden at St Cuthbert's Church for about 40 years, said last night: "It was as if an atomic bomb had gone off. I've never seen anything like it.

"The concrete wall of a neighbour's garage has been blown down and the fence at my house - which was concreted in place - was ripped from its posts.

"Power lines have been damaged and Sunday service had to be cancelled at the church. Wilton woke up to a vision from the war - total destruction.

"We are just trying to pick up the pieces now and hope it has all blown over."

In nearby Lazenby, firefighters were called to a number of homes due to unsafe chimney pots.