Flood warnings across northern England after town swamped

LONDON (AFP) - Swathes of northern England were struggling to hold back flood waters on Tuesday after a historic market town was swamped following a second day of torrential rain.

Dozens of people were evacuated from their homes in Morpeth, Northumberland, in northeast England before the River Wansbeck overwhelmed flood defences and the waters swept large tree trunks down the river.

Flooding caused severe disruption to roads and railway lines across the north of England and Wales, including the East Coast Mainline which links London with Leeds, York and Newcastle.

Some areas experienced more than a month's rain in 24 hours and forecasters warned that more was on its way.