Downpatrick flooding has 'ripped the heart' out of town

The scene in Downpatrick has been described as "apocalyptic"

The damage caused by flooding in Downpatrick has "ripped the heart out of the town", a businessman has said.

Paul McCartan, who owns two shops in the County Down town, said the damage was soul destroying and government support was needed.

A number of towns in counties Down, Armagh and Antrim have been hit by heavy rainfall.

"It looks like it's gone in a flash," Mr McCartan said of his business.

"I've been on the street about 44 years," he told BBC News NI.

"Although we're fully insured, we're not covered for flood, and we're in bother."

Mr McCartan added there was no chance of the premises drying out ahead of Christmas.

Another Downpatrick clothing shop owner, Brian Rodgers, said floodwater was up to chest height on Thursday morning.

He said he had about £150,000 of Christmas stock inside but he could not get in to see how bad the damage was.

• Residents almost knee-deep in water after flooding

On Thursday evening, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said an operation to use high-volume pumps to clear the water from Market Street, Downpatrick, would begin "once river waters are low enough".

"Whilst there have been some indications of floodwaters increasing slightly in Downpatrick, water levels in the Quoile River have peaked and have begun to fall from early morning," they said.

How have you been affected by the flooding? If it is safe to do so, get in touch.

Social Democratic and Labour Party assembly member Colin McGrath said Downpatrick witnessed "apocalyptic scenes" and that about 25 businesses had been "decimated".

He warned there were further concerns about the risks from the next high tide.

Fears are rising in Downpatrick as a high tide is scheduled for later

DfI described recent rainfall as "an exceptional natural event".

Bus services across the town have been suspended and parts of Portadown, County Armagh, remain badly affected.

Translink confirmed its Downpatrick depot remained cut off in both directions due to flood waters and 10 bus services in the town had been suspended.

Speaking to BBC News NI, Mr McGrath said many businesses in Downpatrick were not covered by flood insurance.

He called for Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to "step up to the mark" and provide a financial package for those affected by the flooding.

A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said the UK government has been "in close contact" with the civil service.

"Whilst this is a devolved matter for the relevant NI departments, we will continue to work closely with the NI Civil Service in the days ahead," they said.

The Department for Communities is providing emergency £1,000 payments for domestic properties which have been flooded.

'Water levels need to decrease'

A spokesperson for DfI said its engineering team carried out an assessment and determined it could be another 24 hours before floodwater in Market Street in Downpatrick town centre could be decreased.

"The main reason for this is that the water levels in the river and its smaller tributaries need to decrease before we can make meaningful progress," they said.

In Kilkeel, County Down, the Newcastle Road has been closed due to serious structural damage, with the police warning people to avoid it and obey road closure signs. It is not yet clear how long the road will be closed.

Paul Sloane is worried the road could worsen with drivers ignoring the closure

Paul Sloane, who lives in one of the houses directly outside the stretch of closed road, said many vehicles were ignoring road closure signs and then turning outside his property when they can go no further.

Democratic Unionist Party assembly member Diane Forsyth told BBC News NI the closure was devastating for businesses and residents because it is the the main road into Kilkeel.

Sinn Féin councillor Michael Rice said the feeling in the town was one of frustration.

"Those in Kilkeel feel trapped, from the initial rain on Tuesday the town has been isolated and many feel that rural areas in the Mournes did not get the same support.

"However, I can't fault the road service, the staff have been working non-stop and the damage to the road is very serious."

Boat trips and low supplies

By BBC News NI's Darran Marshall in Portadown

The flood waters in most parts of Portadown have not receded since Wednesday.

The water was too deep to go in - you don't know what's underneath, it's too dangerous.

Young people are travelling up the road in boats, delivering sandbags and medication.

I've seen video footage from inside homes - water above the windows and washing machines floating in garages.

Thirty minutes ago, portaloos were delivered to homes in the town.

A drone image taken above Island Road shows three homes sitting on a small piece of land and completely surrounded by water.

There are people who have no access to food and they are relying on volunteers.

We are seeing the force of this water on homes, on small businesses, on the big supermarkets - they're all impacted.

There are unimaginable scenes, I don't know how people are keeping their spirits high in some parts of the town.

The manager of Portadown-based championship club Annagh United, Ciaran McGurgan, said its pitch was "gone".

"We don't know what sort of destruction has been done underneath it in terms of sand and stones and whatever else," he told BBC's Evening Extra.

He said the impact of the damage would have a "knock-on effect across the community" with multiple organisations and schools using club facilities on a regular basis.

Annagh United's Ciaran McGurgan surveys the damage at the club's ground

Dee Herron from Killyleagh YC Football Club said "the water keeps on coming" but their main pitch was completely flooded.

Mr Herron said representatives from the Irish Football Association had visited the club and "promised a bit of help".

"We need help, absolutely," he said.

Rodney Watson, from Watson Autos, a vehicle recovery firm in Portadown, said he had recovered more than 20 vehicles from floodwaters across the town over the past 24 hours.

Rodney Watson said he had recovered more than 20 vehicles from flooding in Portadown in a 24-hour period

He said some cars were floating in the train station car park and that the water level was much higher on Thursday than the previous day.

DfI said since Monday there had been more than 13,000 calls to the Flooding Incident Line and approximately 13,000 sandbags had been deployed.

The Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance (SEFA) has been made available to homeowners who have encountered significant inconvenience due to flooding inside their homes.

It offers eligible applicants a £1,000 payment through their respective local councils.

The department warned the public to pay attention to road closure advice with many roads still not suitable for traffic due to flood conditions.