THREE North-East men trapped in the path of the deadly hurricane bearing down on the US last night reassured friends and family they would be safe.

Andrew Wright, Ian Brown and Graeme Cole are stranded in a hotel in Houston, the fourth largest city in the US, but have been in hourly contact with their wives and children at home.

The men stocked up on food before Hurricane Rita hit Texas and Lousiana today. They say the city is deserted.

The trio are trapped in Houston's Holiday Inn with 400 others, mostly refugees who fled New Orleans to escape Hurricane Katrina.

Last night, Mr Brown, 42, from Darlington, said he had reassured wife Pauline and children Lewis, 12, and Jake, nine. "I am not worried. We intend to stay inside and out of the hurricane's way," he said.

Mr Wright, 45, also from Darlington, has two children, Matthew, 16, and Emma, 12. He said: "My wife Sandra is probably more frightened than me. She thinks all hell is going to break loose. It is probably going to be quite scary but I am confident we have enough people around us to be safe."

The men, who work for Darlington company Stapleton International, an insurance claims consultancy, had been warned to expect eight hours of stormy conditions as the giant hurricane hits. However, last night they looked likely to escape the brunt of the storm as it veered east.

Yesterday, the men wandered the streets searching for a shop that sold footballs - so they could have a kickabout on the deserted Interstate 10 heading into the city. They found every shop shut.

Mr Cole, 29, of Durham City, whose wife, Claire, and daughter, Bethany, nine, said: "We are bored rigid. There is nothing to do except watch 20-odd TV channels dedicated to the weather, it is all they are talking about."

The men were working in the city repairing rigs damaged by Katrina. They have been told to head to the hotel's ballroom with their duvets and passports if the storm gets really bad.