Emergency payment scheme for flooded homeowners

By Michael McHugh, Press Association

An emergency payment scheme for homeowners flooded during Saturday's heavy downpours in Northern Ireland has been opened.

Belfast International Airport recorded more rainfall than the average for the whole of the month.

Some homes in Muckamore in Co Antrim were inundated and an estate in Lurgan in Co Armagh was swamped in water polluted with sewage.

Some roads were closed and several houses lost power, public service providers said.

Holidaymakers at Belfast International Airport saw their travel plans disrupted as ground staff had to stop working due to the weather.

One Twitter user, Pauline Cooke, said the delays had spilled over into Sunday.

"Have been waiting in Belfast International Airport baggage collection for over three hours, some have been waiting over 12."

She added: "Jet2 delayed our flight 'til 7pm tonight. Was due to leave Belfast International Airport at 7am. On way to airport when Jet2 text at 4am.

"Absolute joke, two kids up from 3am."

The Met Office confirmed a monitoring station at the airport received 98.8 mm of rain on Saturday.

Homeowners affected by "severe inconvenience" can apply for payments worth £1,000 from local councils, Stormont's Communities Department said.

On Saturday motorists were asked to avoid the underpass at Stockman's Lane in Belfast due to high water levels.

Cars parked along the hard shoulder on the A1 near Dromore in Co Down and there were significant delays in both directions on the arterial route.

An amber warning of rain and thunder covered every county of Northern Ireland except Fermanagh, the Met Office said.