Some houses in Rathcoole on the outskirts of Belfast were evacuated on Friday as the waters rose rapidly and a river burst its banks.

Householders fought floodwater four or five feet deep in places.

The thunder storms also caused part of a roof at the Quality Inn hotel in Carrickfergus to collapse.

Cars heading out of Belfast on the M2 were unable to leave the motorway at Greencastle because of a landslide at Arthur Bridge.

There was also flooding in Warrenpoint which has been blamed for an accident on the Newry to Warrenpoint Road.

Police have asked motorists to slow down.