A GAS company has donated £1,000 to help residents in Teesside whose homes were devastated by the tidal surge earlier this month.

Calor Gas donated the cash to support Port Clarence residents affected by flooding after the River Tees burst its banks following the highest tidal surge in 150 years.

Calor was forced to temporarily suspend its own business activities after its customers operations centre, located on Haverton Hill Road, was inundated by flood water.

Kevin Tall, Calor’s Northern Distribution Manager, said: “We’ve experienced first-hand the damage the flooding has caused to our own site, and wanted to do something to support the community at this difficult time.

"With the clean-up operation going on in more than 150 properties, and with some families unable to return to their homes until after Christmas, we hope that our donation to the Billingham Legacy Foundation will help get to get the community back on its feet.”

More than 300 homes were evacuated across the Port Clarence area following the tidal surge. A major clean-up operation is continuing in homes and businesses.