FLOODING fear continued to grip the region today as worried residents watched the skies - and the rivers.

More heavy rain was predicted to lash North Yorkshire and the East Riding on the back of downpours which have seen waters rise and two flood warnings put in place in York.

Across the area, plans were being laid to deal with any floods and stave off the sort of misery seen during last summer's deluge, which drove residents from their homes and left a huge repair bill in its wake.

Towns on alert today included Pocklington - which saw cars become trapped in water on the B1246 road yesterday - and Pickering, two of last June's worst-hit areas, where there has been a clamour for better flood defences.

Town council clerk Richard Wood said: "We have had water about a foot deep on roads between Pocklington and Barmby Moor. It's been building up for a few days and people just have to use common sense to get through it.

"The Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and East Riding of Yorkshire Council have been here and checked things are in order, but people are understandably nervous.

"However, we feel we are better prepared now because of what has happened before."

Pocklington resident John Buxton said: "You can't spend all your time fretting about it, but the last few years have shown us it's sensible to prepare.

"It's only natural that people get edgy when it rains heavily now because we've seen first-hand the chaos it can cause. We've just got to be ready for whatever the weather throws at us and hope it improves quickly."

In Pickering, Beck Isle Museum chairman Roger Dowson was also keeping a watching brief on the rising beck next to the building.

"The water's risen about a foot and we're all just hoping there will be no more flooding," he said.

"If it had rained continuously over the last few days, we would be facing problems, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that the break in the weather yesterday will mean we are okay.

"However, unless something is done about the flood defences here, what happened last summer will happen again. We've had to spend around £30,000 over the last ten years on things like raised floors and pumps at the museum, which could have been used for something better.

"Maybe Pickering doesn't grab the attention of places like Sheffield which have suffered from floods. We feel like a forgotten town."

In Acaster Malbis, near York, water was yesterday lapping at the doors of the Ship Inn and covered its car park, although the pub stayed open.

And in nearby Naburn, the rain was also causing concern, with parish council clerk Jenny Balding saying: "We have emergency plans in place, but people are on tenterhooks to a certain extent.

"There is a need for better flood defences around Naburn because what we have is inadequate. That causes a lot of problems and means people are worried."

In the centre of York, footpaths lining the River Ouse are now under water, with the Environment Agency expecting levels to rise above 11ft early today.


Weather forecast

THE Met Office is predicting more heavy rain for Yorkshire today. This may start to clear throughout the afternoon, but some heavy local showers are still forecast.

Although the rain is predicted to ease towards the weekend, the Met Office says it is closely monitoring another weather system from the Atlantic which could bring more downpours.

The public are being urged to keep up-to-date with flood warnings by calling the Environment Agency's Floodline on 0845 988 1188.