RESIDENTS in a North-East community are counting the cost of flooding for the second time in three months.

Skinningrove, in east Cleveland, was recovering from flooding in July which devastated parts of the village, leaving ruined homes in its wake.

In the early hours of July 2 the beck swelled, became blocked with debris and logs, and burst its banks, spewing raw sewage and floodwater across the village.

Yesterday, the village was hit again, after the beck rose by a foot in 15 minutes.

Nine homes in Zetland Row were affected by floodwaters for the third time in two years. People in three homes had not moved back in after July's devastation.

Emergency teams were despatched to Skinningrove by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Debris and logs were removed from the beck by council workers as worried villagers waited to see whether the beck would burst its banks and return them to square one.

But there were also feelings of anger and frustration.

As the investigation into the July flood continues, there was concern about what could - and should - be done to prevent a disaster happening again.

Resident Tina Dowey said: "We are angry and frustrated. Someone somewhere has to take the brunt.

"Something is not right - it is just not rain, something has gone wrong."

Last night, as the water subsided and the panic eased, resident Tom Evans said: "It was a mix of anger and fear this morning because the water came over the top of the bridge.

"We do believe the bridge in the centre of the village is to blame, and this morning's escapades highlighted that."

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

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

The A174 Guisborough to Whitby coast road was closed between Carlin How and Brotton because of floods, although it reopened later in the day.

Problems were also caused when a road collapsed between Moorsholm and the A171.

Other roads were closed throughout the Redcar and east Cleveland area, but most were reopened during the afternoon when the rain stopped.