Weather: Northern Ireland getting ready for more major flooding as widespread clear-up operation continues

A major clearing-up operation was under way today (Wednesday) across Northern Ireland as homes and businesses in the worst-hit areas braced themselves for more severe flooding.

With Storm Ciaran on the way, many business owners are fearing the worst.

The flooding has already caused major disruption to travel right across Northern Ireland.

Translink said this morning that its Bangor line was closed and because of flooding on the Portadown to Dundalk line, a bus service was being offered.

The PSNI has continued to warn motorists about travelling only when necessary.

In a statement this morning, police said some routes in the Lisburn area were not passable with several roads closed.

These included the Old Road, in Maghaberry and the Moira Road close to the junction with Hulls Lane.

"Motorists should heed the road closed signs and not attempt to travel through the flood water," the statement added.

And in Kilkeel, the Newcastle Road is closed.

In a statement, The Department for Infrastructure, said there were nearly 800 calls to their flooding incident line over the last few days.

And it said it had continued to be on "high alert" dealing with a further yellow warning for heavy rainfall.

Some 900 calls have been made to its flooding incident line.

It added: "The huge multi-agency response effort is working well. As a result over 12000 sandbags have been deployed to areas worst affected particularly in the Newry and South Eastern area, where rain intensity, high tides and saturated ground has caused the flooding.

"River and lough levels continue to be monitored as levels rise and will continue to do so over the coming days.

"People are urged to stay away from flood defences, flooded areas and watercourses."

Meanwhile, large parts of Newry in Co Down have been swamped by floodwater as the city's canal burst its banks amid heavy rainfall.

Dozens of businesses were engulfed in the floods, with widespread damage caused to buildings, furnishings and stock.

Police have warned people to stay out of the city centre as streets have turned into rivers.

Thousands of sandbags have been stacked along the canal to try to stem to flow amid fear of further breaches.

Parts of the canal walls have already collapsed into the water and the authorities are concerned more sections could give way.

Other areas in the north east of the island of Ireland were also badly hit by the overnight rain, with homes flooded in Camlough in Co Armagh and Newcastle in Co Down.

Just across the Irish border in Co Louth, a bridge close to Riverstown partially collapsed amid rising water on the Cooley Peninsula. The town of Carlingford also experienced some flooding.

The main motorway and train line linking Belfast and Dublin were both affected by flooding on Tuesday, causing major disruption for cross-border travellers.

Further south, flooding has also damaged homes in parts of Co Wexford this week, including the town of Rosslare.

In Newry, Sugar Island, Kildare Street, Canal Quay and part of Bridge Street were among the areas worst hit.