FLOOD warnings remained in force across North Yorkshire today as weather chiefs warned that more rain was on the way.

The Environment Agency said seven flood watches were still in force in York, Stamford Bridge and Naburn Lock, but that Butterwick Bridge had now received the all clear.

In York, riverside footpaths in the city centre were still impassable, with the river having flowed into Museum Gardens. A flood warning remained in place from Bishopthorpe to St George's Field.

In Elvington, there was serious flooding but roads were passable with care. In Acaster Malbis, the fields and roads leading to the Ship Inn were flooded.

Flood watches were also in place on the River Ouse at Naburn and Naburn Lock and the River Derwent at Buttercrambe Mill, as well as the River Ouse at Acaster Selby.

Chiefs at PA WeatherCentre have indicated that there will be new bursts of rain today and tonight but these will ease off before midnight.

But there will be much heavier bursts in places tomorrow, with rain the persisting for much of the day.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said the additional rail fall meant that the prospect of further flooding could not be ruled out.

"There are seven flood warnings in place, and much of the rest of the region is on flood watch because of the rainfall expected in North Yorkshire," she said.

"It is difficult to predict what is going to happen because we don't know how much rain there is likely to be.

"We are on standby and are monitoring the situation on a 24-hour basis. We are ready to respond with measures such as sandbagging, but we can't rule anything out at this stage."

Eric Ingledew, of Elvington Parish Council, said the main road was still open and the authority was in constant touch with City of York Council and the Environment Agency.

He added that a bridge on the B1228 between Elvington and Sutton-on-Derwent, which has been closed for repairs, had helped the situation as it was keeping lorries out of the village.

"Cars can drive through the main road, but very slowly," he said. "The council and the Environment Agency are providing an excellent service and we know exactly what is happening on a daily basis."

Updated: 14:04 Tuesday, February 03, 2004