Flood warnings remain after New Year disruption

Nine flood warnings remain in place across Yorkshire after heavy rain caused disruption to travel across the region on New Year's Day.

The warnings, indicating flooding is expected, remained live across North, West and South Yorkshire on Wednesday evening.

Several properties in the village of Gargrave, near Skipton, have been flooded, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

A number of events across the region were also cancelled earlier, including the annual Joe Town Memorial New Year's Dip in the River Wharfe at Otley, while roads were closed and train services withdrawn.

The annual New Year's Day dip in the coastal town of Hornsea, East Yorkshire, was also called off because of sewage overflows caused by the heavy rainfall.

The Environment Agency (EA) warned that the River Ouse in York, where one flood warning remains in place, is not expected to peak until Thursday.

Helen Batt, from the agency, said the levels of some rivers would rise even after rain stopped as water filters through to "lower catchment" areas.

She said: "While the weather might be calming down and the rain might be stopping, rivers are continuing to respond, so we need people to be aware of that and alert.

"Several properties in Yorkshire have been flooded. This is devastating for people and our sympathies go out to those impacted."

The EA has also warned people to avoid walking or driving through floodwater.

In Gargrave, rescue crews said several properties "on the same street" had their basements flooded, with crews called out at about 08:45 GMT on Wednesday morning.

The fire service was also called to help multiple drivers left stranded in floodwater throughout the day, including in Northallerton, Ripon and Hawes.

Rescue crews said they had winched a vehicle, which was in danger of being swept out into the Ouse, to a "safe place".

Besides York, flood warnings in North Yorkshire are also in place at Boroughbridge, Masham, Naburn, Cowthorpe, near Wetherby, and Newsham, near Thirsk.

In West Yorkshire, Allerton Bywater near Castleford, Horbury in Wakefield and part of Bingley are also covered by warnings.

A further 24 orange flood alerts, which indicate flooding is possible, also remained in place across the whole of Yorkshire, as of 18:15.

In East Yorkshire, the Priory Road area of Hull was one of the places covered by an alert.

Earlier, Calder View in Mirfield was closed in both directions due to flooding, Kirklees Council said, while the M62 junction 24 slip road at Ainley Top was also shut.

A number of Northern and TransPennine train services in the region were also disrupted because of flooding.

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