People trapped and hiker rescued as 'worst flood in 40 years' hits south east

Flooding on the Tullybrannigan Road in Newcastle, County Down, this morning.

Sandbags are being used to protect properties in County Down and a hiker has been rescued from the Mourne Mountains after flooding caused by two days of heavy rainfall.

Samuel Guist, who lives in the Tullybrannigan Road area of Newcastle, said streams of water were washing down past houses and continuing to rise.

"One of my neighbours who has lived here for 40 years said he has never seen anything like it," Mr Guist said.

Meanwhile, rescuers were called to the assist the hiker who was cut off by swollen rivers in the nearby Mournes.

Stones and gravel had washed down from the Mourne Mountains, making some roads in the area almost impassable for vehicles

A yellow weather warning for rain in counties Antrim, Armagh, and Down had been extended until 15:00 BST and widened to include parts of counties Londonderry and Tyrone.

Mr Guist said stones and gravel had washed down from the Mourne Mountains making some roads in the area almost impassable for vehicles.

He said residents had shovelled the stones and gravel to make barriers along with the sandbags to protect their homes.

"It is particularly bad on Sunningdale Drive, which runs on to Tullybrannigan Road," he said.

"4X4s are able to get up and down, but most cars are avoiding it."

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) told BBC News NI that 500 sandbags have been deployed and roads service staff are helping remove large stones and debris from affected roads.

Alliance Party councillor Jill Truesdale also lives in the area and described seeing the water "funnelling down the mountain".

"I've never seen so much debris come down before, it's quite frightening," she told BBC News NI.

The Tullybrannigan Road suffered serious damage following the heavy flooding

She and her family are now unable to leave their house due to the flooding.

"It looks as if we are going to be [trapped] for a while because there's also a high tide so we won't be leaving, it's not worth the risk," Ms Truesdale said.

'It's about protecting homes at the minute'

Sinn Féin councillor Willie Clarke

Sinn Féin councillor Willie Clarke said "an immense amount of water" had come off the mountains.

"We're hoping it is going to ease because it is coinciding with a high tide. We need it to ease because the waters won't be able to get out into the tide."

Mr Clarke said the flooding was expected following the Met Office warning.

"There has always been an issue with dealing with water capacity in the Tullybrannigan area," he said.

"The issues about the reasons for it can be dealt with at a later date, it's about protecting homes at the minute."

He added: "There is a lot of water outside homes but it hasn't actually got inside… it's very close to getting in to a number of areas."

Mr Clarke said the community had rallied to help those whose houses had been impacted.

"All the community has been out helping their neighbours and I want to thank them and also the statutory bodies who have been out from all hours," he said.

Mountain walker cut off by swollen rivers

A member of the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team who helped the walker to safety

In the heart of the Mourne Mountains, rescuers were called to help a walker reach safety after they were cut off by swollen rivers.

The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team said they were asked by police to help the individual who had camped overnight in the Annalong Valley.

A spokesperson said: "Having camped in the valley overnight and expecting heavy rain, but not accounting for the impact of flooded rivers, the camper awoke cut off from several approaches.

"Wet, cold and concerned about navigating accurately in the conditions, the individual rightly sought help."

A rescue team was able to walk in from the Ben Crom Valley to reach the camper and escort them out avoiding river crossings.

"Five members responded with others on standby and the team stood down at 4pm," the spokesperson said.

"Heavy rain can have an impact beyond the obvious, including on what is safe and accessible when flooding occurs.

"Looking ahead to how an area may change due to incoming weather can help avoid a bad experience."

'I remember canoeing during 1966 flooding'

Peter Law was among a group of residents trying to clear drains to help alleviate the flooding

In Newcastle, Peter Law was among a group of residents in the Tullybrannigan area trying to clear drains to help alleviate the flooding.

"With the hill behind us all the water is just coming right down here.

"The drains are blocked because of the leaves, we're doing our best here with limited resources trying to clear out the drains," Mr Law told BBC News NI.

He said the area is prone to flooding.

"I remember as a youngster going up and down in a canoe in the floods of '66 so it's nothing new but it does happen every so often, and with all the recent building going on around here, the amount of drainage - the sewers and drains just can't cope."

Several residential areas in Newcastle are flooded, including Slievecorragh Avenue

County Tyrone town a 'basin' anytime it rains

A local resident has said Beragh's GAA pitches are always hit with flooding anytime there is heavy rain

In the County Tyrone town of Beragh, water has saturated large parts of the area although flooding has not yet affected roads.

Barry McGuinness, a local resident, described Beragh as a "bit of a basin" as many residents find water flows off nearby hills and from overflowing rivers during heavy

"If there's any rain here we are flooded," he said. "Many parts of the town have flood barriers, but a lot of time they don't do the job.

"The local GAA pitch is normally the first to go," he adding, saying that, one year, the clubhouse filled with water.

"It's a very close community so you do feel for anyone effected by the weather in these circumstances."

A Met Office alert issued for Antrim, Armagh, and Down on Friday came to an end at 15:00, after being widened on Sunday to include parts of counties Londonderry and Tyrone.

A DfI spokesperson said roads staff are on the ground monitoring the situation and helping to remove blockages, adding that there are "no significant issues in other areas at present".

Anyone impacted by floods can contact the Flood Incident Line 0300 2000 100 to request sandbags.