FOR the second time this year, frightened pensioners had to flee their council bungalows as floods threatened to engulf their estate yesterday.

Gardens and greens in Howden-le-Wear were submerged under a deluge of rain and sewage caused, said residents, by inadequate drainage.

Quick-thinking Neighbourhood Watch volunteers joined firefighters and council staff to help eight elderly people from Hargill Haven to the safety of their common room.

They included 97-year-old Dolly Scott, who had to be persuaded to leave.

Nearby, their neighbours counted the cost of the devastation.

Paul Wandless, who has a 12-week-old son, Joshua, is angry that his home has been hit for the second time.

Next door, Dawn Foster and her husband, Chris, used their gate as a sluice to drain their garden on to Hargill Road.

Neighbourhood Watch coordinator Betty Woods, of Southburn Grove, said: "It was very frightening. It happened in minutes. As soon as we saw it coming we thought 'not again'."

At South Church, near Bishop Auckland, victims of the summer floods spent a sleepless night checking on the River Gaunless.

Some are still living in caravans while their homes dry out.

Ali Shakir reopened his shop only last Friday, after losing £13,000 worth of stock in June.

He said: "The river was about an inch off bursting its banks. It was quite scary. We were awake all night looking out of the window.

"Nobody seemed to be sleeping, they were all out checking the river.

"Those still living in caravans were really frightened, thinking if it came like last time they were going to be swept away.