Heatwave? Not in 2012 when South Tyneside mopped up after two bouts of flash floods

The Summer of 2012 made its mark of South Tyneside.

But it was not because of the heat. The borough had to clean up twice in a matter of days as flash floods battered the area and caused rivers to run down main streets.

Police were forced to close roads in South Tyneside including the A194 and Jarrow’s Lindisfarne roundabout.

The storms also hit the Metro system and cause chaos to commuters when they struck in early August 2012.

But what made it worse was that thunderstorms had already sparked havoc days earlier for a dozen properties on the Lukes Lane Estate in Hebburn, which was badly hit when heavy rain battered the borough on June 28.

Several roads and estates in the mid-Tyne area suffered, with the River Don in Jarrow breaking its bank at several points.

Mum-of-three Donna Turnbull, of Morecambe Parade, Lukes Lane, reacted after the second bout of floods.

She said at the time: "We had the same problems all over again. The gullies couldn’t cope, and the water came pouring into people’s homes in Eastbourne Parade, Morecambe Parade and Southport Parade.

"The water came into people’s homes all over again. It looked like the same problem as the last time - the gullies were blocked and water came running from the nearby fields and into the homes."

It was a similar story in Monkton Village, Jarrow, where Cheviot Road was struck.

The August storms brought real problems for South Tynesiders. Firefighters spent an hour clearing a flooded subway in Chillingham Terrace in Low Simonside, Jarrow.

Earlier in the day, crews had to rescue about 40 stranded passengers after a Metro train was forced to stop near Chichester Metro station.

Traders in Ocean Road also suffered more flood misery as overflowing drains saw water pour into businesses.

At Kennedy’s pub at Tyne Dock, South Shields, flood doors installed after a recent £50,0000 refurbishment kept waters at bay.

But the drama was not over as a yellow weather warning was issued by the Met office, with further heavy rain expected across South Tyneside.

It might have been the height of Summer but South Tyneside was battling with a deluge of rain.

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