THESE were the scenes as York motorists struggled to pass through flood waters following torrential rain over the city.

Residents and businesses have also been put on high alert after a flood warning was issued for the River Ouse at Naburn Lock.

But bosses at the Environment Agency reassured they were not expecting a repeat of the summer's devastating floods - with the rain expected to ease today.

Yesterday, flooding in Water Lane, in Clifton, York, caused chaos for pedestrians and motorists, and the road was eventually closed in the afternoon.

An eyewitness, Reid Speck, of Brailsford Crescent, in Clifton, said: "I went to the Spa in Clifton Green at lunchtime and the flooding in Water Lane was terrible.

"The water was about two feet deep and I had to climb through people's gardens to get past.

"There were two cars stuck in the water. I watched for about 20 minutes and they didn't get out during that time."

Meanwhile, Elvington Main Street was closed to traffic both ways yesterday due to flooding, but was expected to re-open this morning.

Coun Ian Bailey, chairman of Elvington Parish Council, said: "The beck flooded and there was about two feet of water in Main Street yesterday. No properties were flooded, but the road was closed as a safety measure.

"The main pump was connected and calibrated today, and this has already significantly reduced the level of the beck.

"We are hoping that the situation will have returned to normal by tomorrow."

Flood watches are also in place for the River Derwent and Upper River Ouse - including riverside footpaths in York.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "We are looking at the weather forecast at the moment and the situation for today seems to be a lot less rain than yesterday, so we are hopeful that the situation won't get any worse.

"The problem yesterday was that the ground was already saturated, but we are nowhere near the devastation that we saw in the summer."