Flash flood chaos in Sheffield

weather A torrential rain storm in Sheffield caused flash floods that damaged properties and caused at least two schools to close yesterday.

The downpour, reminiscent of the floods experienced in Sheffield in the summer of 2007, saw roads closed and parts of the city's tram service brought to a standstill. But firefighters believed they were caused by the city's drainage system becoming inundated, rather than the river Don breaking its banks as it did two years ago. Sheffield Council said a number of major routes were affected including the main A61 route south out of the city, which was impassable, and the Penistone Road through the Hillsborough area, which was also badly affected.

A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Police said they were dealing with "a number of localised flooding incidents" in Sheffield after some properties were flooded with up to eight inches of water.