ONLY the desperate efforts of firefighters working through the night prevented hundreds of homes being flooded this week.

As The Advertiser went to print there was still a severe flood warning at Chester-le-Street where the Durham County Cricket Club stadium was underwater.

Flooding at Lanchester had eased but only after five separate fire brigade pumps cleared 10,000 litres of water a minute for the better part of two days.

The Environment Agency was still 'keeping a close eye on the Lanchester situation' but there was no severe flood warning.

The River Browney had not breached its banks but the drains were unable to cope with the rain pouring off surrounding hills. Some garages and other properties had experienced minor damage but the situation had largely been contained.

Speaking shortly after a panic period early on Tuesday morning, manager of the village chemists, Gill Hall, said that the shop had managed to stay open despite the fact that water had flooded through the door.

She said: "We've kept the back door open so our customers can climb over our sandbags to get their medication. Even then it's been touch and go. We've really been very lucky to be able to stay open."

Head of St Bede's RC School George Dunn said the school had been forced to close. It was hoped to reopen later in the week.

"We've a beck which feeds the River Browney running through the school. At present it is six feet deep. Parts of the school have already been breached and we have other serious problems. According to staff we've had for more than 35 years, this is the worst ever," he said."

Residents Barry and Connie Moore had watched as the water levels rose towards their homes on Victoria Terrace. Luckily it didn't breach.

Connie said: "The firefighters have been marvellous. If it wasn't for them who knows."

Meanwhile County Durham's cricket ground, the Riverside, lived up to its name when its pitch became awash with water on Tuesday.

The groundsman at the Chester-le-Street ground could only watch as thousands of gallons of water built up on the crease and the outfield.

Club chairman Bill Midgley remained optimistic that no long-term damage would be caused by the deluge.

He said: "We should be okay, as long as it's not there for too long.

"If it's river water it shouldn't cause us any problems, but if it's got any sewerage in it - a distinct possibility - then it could get really messy on the square."

The River Wear burst its banks near the A167 past Chester-le-Street, flooding football pitches and parkland.

Greencroft Comprehensive in Annfield Plain and Shiney Row Primary School in Stanley, both suffered major flooding problems. Greencroft was closed due to flooding causing damage to the school boiler on Tuesday. Firefighters were expected to work into the night on Tuesday to clear flooded cellars at Shiney Row Primary School.

Specialist North-East boat builders at Durham believe this week's flood waters are among the worst in living memory.

Brown's Racing Boats has a tell-tale tide mark on the side wall of its boathouse, revealing the extent of the flooding in recent days. The murky black line, way above average levels in the adjoining River Wear, exceeds the previous 'high water mark' recorded in June's floods.

River water breached the banks on Monday and, after receding overnight, mounted again on Tuesday, lapping up over the riverside footpath in many areas around Elvet Bridge.

Boat builder Jamie Robson said: "The mark from June was supposed to be the worst seen here in more than 50 years, but this has now gone above that."

Water breached the river banks in several areas around Durham's city centre peninsula for two days running, with Milburngate Waterside, near the National Savings complex, completely flooded