The NSC escaped flooding despite dramatically rising river levels - as new flood defences were tested for the first time.

As a precautionary measure, the facility was closed at 4pm yesterday with very heavy rain forecasted to continue and rising river waters having already caused flooding of roads nearby.

A spokesman for the NSC said: ’We’re glad to report that there was no flooding at the NSC yesterday or overnight. ’Flood-proofing work at the NSC following the wide scale damage caused in 2015 is still currently ongoing.

’Yesterday, contractors were on site fitting various flood defences, gates and barriers. The closure, deemed necessary anyway, offered the opportunity for contractors and staff to deploy some of the new those defences, and proved a valuable hands-on training session, albeit an unplanned one.’

Once all customers had left the building, a team erected the necessary barriers, gates and sand bags and by 5.45pm, the NSC had all the necessary protection in place.

Staff were on site again at 6.30am this morning and removed the flood barrier system in order that the NSC was operational and open to the public from 9am. There was no reported damage.

The spokesman added: ’Had the closure been put off until the evening, that training opportunity would not have arisen.

’The staff have gained some essential knowledge and experience of the flood protection system as a result of this which will now aid the NSC in reviewing the procedure for any future occasions.’