SIXTY families were evacuated by police in Yarm last night as the Tees breached flood defences in several places.

The residents, from two blocks of flats in Castle Dyke Wynd next to the river, were taken by coach to nearby Conyers School for the night.

Yarm High Street was closed by police, but a larger-scale evacuation appeared unlikely late last night, with the bulk of defences expected to hold.

The Environment Agency shipped in an extra 3,000 sandbags and two pumps to shore up defences.

Martin Eddy, assistant manager of the Black Bull in Yarm High Street, said: "There is no water on the High Street yet but we can't get to the bottom of the garden and the car parks are flooded, but the pub itself is still full of people."

The latest flood threat is being blamed on heavy rain and rapidly melting snow in the hills of County Durham and North Yorkshire.

The Environment Agency had earlier issued four severe flood warnings - on the Gaunless in South Church, near Bishop Auckland, the Wear at Durham and Chester-le-Street, as well as the Tees at Yarm.

An agency spokeswoman said last night the Wear and Gaunless had peaked late yesterday afternoon, but river levels were still high.

She said: "People need to be vigilant until we stand the warnings down. Even though the river may peak there is always the potential for flooding if we have more rain."

The Derwent at Malton and Norton in North Yorkshire also peaked yesterday afternoon but the river was expected to remain high throughout today.

Forecasters are predicting a gradual improvement in the weather, although higher ground could see some snow and hail, which could raise river levels further when it melts.

Sandbags were being distributed in York last night and some properties had been affected. But the Ouse was expected to peak well below last year's flood levels.

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