AS floods continue to blight com-munities across the country, residents in the Darlington and Sedgefield boroughs continue to be in turmoil because of the weather.

At the start of the week, Hurworth, near Darlington, braced itself for the worst as the River Tees was placed on flood alert - but the peak on Monday night passed without too many problems.

In Neasham, problems were narrowly averted with the help of an extra pump to clear the water. However, the rain continued and the prospect of what further damage could be caused in the village and nearby Neasham if the weather does not ease, leaves residents fearful for their property for the second time in a year.

As Tuesday progressed, parts of Hundens Lane, Darlington, were six inches deep in flooding, while there was standing water on Haughton Road, near David Penman's garage.

While in Aycliffe village at lunchtime, the warnings from the Environment Agency urged immediate action as houses, businesses and roads were expected to be flooded as the Skerne looked likely to overflow.

On Monday, all roads in and out of Neasham were closed and, during the past days, the A6072 past Heighington has been closed on a number of occasions. There have also been repeated problems on the A167 near Ferryhill.

At the time the Advertiser went to press, various roads in and around Darlington borough were closed including the Sedgefield back road, at Sadberge, Dinsdale Bridge, near Neasham, and the A6072. Countless more were 'passable with care'.

The AA is urging extreme care to avoid engine flooding, not only for the safety of you and other road users but also to help to avoid costly damage to your engine.

Spokesman Gideon Fireman said: "If you come across flood water and you decide to drive through it, then you drive through it at no more than a walking pace. Ten miles an hour is just too fast. Keep your distance from the vehicle in front, because any waves that they cause might get taken up by your engine."

Rail users have also been thrown into turmoil as all services going south from Darlington were stopped and buses were used between the town and York.

In Darlington, Hurworth School reopened on Tuesday morning after closure from a boiler breakdown due to flooding, while Firthmoor infants, Bishopton and Redmarshall primary and Hummersknott Comprehensive remained shut due to flood related problems. In Sedgefield borough, Dean Road nursery in Ferryhill was closed on Tuesday morning.

Around the county, the weather continued to take its toll. South Church, in Bishop Auckland, was, like Neasham, among the nation's worst hit villages in the floods six months ago and has again been blighted.

Forecasts say the worst of the weather is expected to pass by the weekend