YORK was put on floodwatch today as heavy rain and gales battered the city.

The Environment Agency was warning of flooding on riverside footpaths in York as well as at Linton Lock and at Naburn.

While flood warnings were in place in those areas, the agency's floodline service was also on floodwatch in the Vale of York. At the flood-prone riverside pub The King's Arms on Kings Staith, York, the landlord was bracing himself for an onslaught of water.

Mike Hartley said that, by 10am today, the Ouse outside his pub had risen to ten and a half feet above its normal level.

"It's not yet coming inside the pub, but we're getting ourselves organised in case it does."

Mr Hartley, who has been landlord of the pub for the past eight years, said the pub would be open for business as usual.

"We're planning to open up, but there won't be any furniture inside. That's always the first thing we do when we see the river rising."

Updated: 12:07 Saturday, January 08, 2005