SECRET military tests blamed for a flood which killed 35 people may have been conducted in remote parts of the North-East, it has emerged.

One of the worst flash floods in the UK swept through Lynmouth, Devon, on August 15, 1952.

A wall of water, reportedly 12ft high, tore through the village after more than nine inches of rain fell and the nearby river broke its banks.

Until recently, the tragedy had always been deemed an "act of God". But new evidence has emerged, suggesting a secret experiment by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) may have been to blame.

Previously classified information has been produced which suggests that the RAF was involved in artificial rainmaking exercises during the period before the flood happened.

According to a national radio programme, a team of international scientists worked with the RAF on the technique.

The experiment, known as Operation Cumulus, involved flying straight into a cloud and "seeding" dry ice into it.

RAF navigator Captain John Hart recalled the success of the early tests in 1949, conducted in the North-East.

"We flew straight through the top of the cloud, poured dry ice down into the cloud," he said. "We flew down to see if any rain came out of the cloud and it did, about 30 minutes later, and we all cheered."

It was thought that artificial rain could be used to bog down an enemy.

Ex-services personnel say the experiments took place shortly before the Lynmouth tragedy.

They further claim that some of the chemicals used by the RAF were manufactured by ICI, at Billingham.

Last night, a spokesman for ICI said: "It is more than 50 years ago. We have not been able to locate any record to prove it or disprove it. That is the honest facts of the situation."

The MoD said there was no evidence to suggest that the RAF, or Meteorological Office, were responsible for the tragedy