DURHAM suffered its worst flooding since July 2009 yesterday, as the River Wear rose several feet and burst its banks.

Framwelgate Waterside was among the worst hit areas, with police forced to block the riverside road past Milburngate House as far as the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Hotel guests stood on the steps and watched as the water levels rose, leaving one car partially submerged.

Manager Neal Holloway, who was called from his bed at home at 5.30am, donned swimming trunks and a highvisibility jacket to rescue another vehicle.

“A guest was starting to panic because she had parked on the road. I said I was happy to go out.

“I put my trunks on and went out there. It was a Volkswagen Golf. The water was up to my knees. It was freezing.”

The hotel was flooded in 2009, but yesterday the water stopped short of the front doors.

Mr Holloway said: “There’s nothing we can do but watch.

It’s terrible.”

Elsewhere, riverside footpaths disappeared under water, boathouses were flooded and an outdoor dining area at The Boathouse bar was overwhelmed. Staff waded in to collect picnic tables.

Rowing boats had to be removed from the Wear and the Prince Bishops River Cruiser was unable to operate.

Jamie Robson, who runs the business, said: “The water’s about half-a-metre below where it was in 2009.”

The Half Moon Inn, which backs onto the Wear, saw its beer garden flooded and sandbags were stacked at the front door. Durham University’s Elvet Riverside car park was flooded.

Trevor Armour, acting director of the estates and buildings for the university, said it was liaising with the Environment Agency and taking all possible precautions to protect people and property.

Traffic through Durham was very slow, with part of the A690 westbound closed for a time in the afternoon.