RESIDENTS in East Cleveland are counting the cost of flooding for the second time in three months.

Skinningrove, which is still recovering from floods that devastated the village in July, was hit again on Monday after the beck swelled by a foot in just 15 minutes. Nine homes on Zetland Row were affected by minor flooding for the third time in two years.

Emergency teams were despatched to Skinningrove by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. Debris and logs were removed from the beck by council workmen as villagers waited with baited breath.

Loftus Bank escaped the brunt of the weather following a massive engineering programme to stabilise the bank after heavy rains caused a landslide two years ago.

In Loftus a gable end on an empty house on Dam Street collapsed and four properties in East Crescent were flooded. Properties on Arlington Street, Dam Street and St Hilda's Place were also affected.

A number of roads were closed in the Redcar and East Cleveland area, including the A174 Guisborough to Whitby coast road between Carlin How and Brotton, and a road collapsed between Moorsholm and the A171.

Fears of more flooding from a high tide on Monday evening proved to be unfounded as an 80-strong council workforce was put on standby.

Weather forecasts for Monday night predicting hurricane force winds, freezing conditions and snow convinced the council to maintain its emergency control centre.

Gritting crews were put on standby and scouts were positioned around the borough to raise the alarm about any troublespots.

In the end it was a peaceful night and the clean-up operation has now begun.

The council's Chief Executive, Colin Moore, said: "I would like to congratulate our staff who have worked in the most appalling conditions throughout a long day.

"I am only too well aware of the difficulties some communities have suffered, but I'm sure that the work that was carried out prevented a more serious situation developing.