1.
GV Map showing northern England
0.10

2.
GV Car ploughing through flooded street
0.19

3.
MV Bus and car marooned in deep water (2 shots)
0.26

4.
CV Pan houses on flooded street
0.34

5.
MV Firemen climbing on fire engine on flooded street
0.38

6.
MV Pan along front of houses on flooded street
0.45

7.
MV People wading through water
0.50

8.
SV People sweeping water out of shops
0.56

9.
SV Firemen carrying hose along flooded street
1.04

10.
SV Pan from shop front to firm engine and van moving through flooded street (2 shots)
1.15



Initials OS/133 OS/142


T'RECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In England and Wales on Saturday (14 August), unusually heavy downpours, thunderstorms, and wind caused at least one death -- a 16-year-old boy was killed when he and two friends were struck by lightning while fishing. Flooding caused a number of roads to be closed.

The worst of the Flooding was in the northeast of England, in County Durham. There, vehicles littered the roadways and streets, after being abandoned in the floodwaters. Firemen and other emergency crews were kept busy pumping water from houses and businesses. Some residents in the area had to be evacuated -- by boat.

SYNOPSIS: Heavy rains in the northeast of England caused the River Wear to burst its banks. Some families had to be evacuated from their homes.

The unusually heavy rain fell in just twenty-four hours, and the result is disastrous in some areas. Villagers were evacuated from their homes in County Durham, trains have been delayed, and hundreds of motorists have been marooned their cars littering the flooded roads.

In the worst hit areas, mining villages were under several feet of water. Some areas were cut off, and many people were evacuated by police, who were using inflatable boats. First aid and relief centres were set up in community centre and police stations. Many roads were closed and telephones were out of order Communication was kept up by police radio.

Shops, factories and schools were flood Firemen worked throughout the day trying to keep pace with emergency calls. With many roads closed, traffic is backed up in the surrounding areas. Gusts of wind up to sixty miles an hour have also added to the problems. A boy was killer what he and two others were struck by lightning, while they were fishing.