up takes place after deluge in Northern Ireland A clean-up operation is continuing after homes and businesses were flooded during torrential rain in many parts of Northern Ireland on Thursday. The worst flooding was in Counties Armagh and Down, particularly Newry. Several homes and shops were evacuated on Bridge Street, Newry, on Thursday afternoon because part of the street was under two to three feet of water. On Friday, Trafficwatch NI advised staff in Greenbank industrial estate to leave before a high tide at 16:00 GMT. Further problems on Friday have meant Bridge Street and several other roads across Northern Ireland remain closed. Newry businessman, Shealan Strain, who owns The Gentry clothes store on Bridge Street, said he tried to protect his shop with sandbags on Thursday afternoon but had to evacuate because of the volume of water. "Within about 20 minutes it was coming in the front and the back, so basically, we just had to leave," he told BBC Radio Ulster. Mr Strain said when the water subsided at about 20:00 GMT, he returned to the shop and spent almost four hours cleaning up the damage. Already saturated However, he said has been told the street flooded again on Friday morning. So what do we do now? I haven't had one phone call from the council informing me of what has happened, what the plan is and if there is any chance of flooding again," Mr Strain told the BBC. A bridal shop next door was also flooded, and it led to problems for one bride who is getting married on Friday. Caroline Bramwell was due to pick up her wedding dress from the shop on Thursday afternoon, but was told it was inaccessible due to the floods. However, local police officers came to the rescue, wading through the shop to retrieve Ms Bramwell's dress. Meanwhile, the Department for Employment and Learning's (DEL) temporary offices in Clarence Court in Belfast were flooded on Thursday. They have been based there while their own offices in Adelaide Street were being refurbished. A DEL spokesman said they had re-located back to the Adelaide Street premises on Friday because the flooding had caused a power failure, but hoped to be back in Clarence Court on Monday. He added that services had not been affected. Staff in the Department for Regional Development who shared an office with DEL in Clarence Court have also had to leave the premises. Cutbacks Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy, whose department is responsible for maintaining the roads network, expressed his sympathy to all those affected by the flooding. Camlough in County Armagh has been badly affected by the heavy rain. Video: Destination Newry and Mourne However, Mr Kennedy rejected Sinn Féin suggestions that maintenance cutbacks had contributed to flood damage to properties. "The simply facts are, particularly in relation to Newry and Bridge Street, Newry, that a local river burst its banks not only yesterday afternoon but I understand perhaps overnight as well, and that's was caused the issue," the minister said. My early assessment of yesterday's and ongoing events around Northern Ireland has been the sheer volume of water coming down from the skies, impacting on already saturated fields and hills and run-offs, and water will always find an out. Parts of Northern Ireland saw 6-7mm of rain per hour falling for three to four hours non-stop, on ground that was already wet. The weather front started to clear to the north on Thursday evening, but, a dual rain and wind warning had been issued for Friday morning. Newry councillor Charlie Casey claimed that overloaded storm drains in Bridge Street in Newry and also in the Carnagat area had been the main cause of serious flooding problems. He called for action to be taken to ensure it did not happen again. Place of rescue Newry Sports Centre was opened on Thursday evening as a "place of rescue," for residents affected by the floods in the city. If you feel that you may be entitled to the payment, contact your council as soon as possible and they will arrange for an urgent inspection of your property.