A MAIN road between villages near York has been blocked by flooding - less than a year after half a million pounds was spent on flood defences.

The Environment Agency is investigating why the B1222 Naburn to Stillingfleet road has been inundated by up to 18 inches of water.

Last year, the agency completed an embankment alongside a stretch of the road to prevent it being flooded by water from the nearby River Ouse.

The £500,000 scheme was funded by UK Coal to counteract future flood risks through subsidence caused by mining works.

The agency said today that the defences had not been breached. Instead, it appeared that a beck or drain that fed into the river in that area was backing up, causing the flooding. Staff were still investigating what had happened while efforts were made to pump out the floodwaters.

One Stillingfleet resident, cyclist Sandra Delf, who had to take a detour on her journey to York, said: "It's great, isn't it? I had thought it wouldn't happen after they had built those defences. They spent quite a substantial amount of money on them."

Meanwhile, residents of Stockton-on-the-Forest have been facing major problems driving into York after surface water running off fields created large lakes on the road near Dean's Garden Centre.

In York, Rowntree Park has been closed to the public after water levels in the lake rose by a foot, flooding neighbouring footpaths.

A council spokesman said that as engineers would not be able to drain the water away, it was likely the park would remain closed over the weekend.

Meanwhile, at Elvington, calls are being made to approve a feasibility study into a £165,000 emergency flood defence scheme for the village, as water levels rise once again.

Following heavy rain over the past few days one property is currently under threat from flooding and the main street has had to be closed. Sand bags and pumps are being made available to residents in case water levels rise further.

Selby MP John Grogan said if councillors approved the £3,000 needed to conduct the study at a meeting on January 22, this could be the last winter Elvington was without a flood defence plan. "Since the floods of 2000 there have been regular meetings between the city council, parish council, Ouse and Derwent Drainage Board and the Environment Agency, but we need to come to a solution," said Mr Grogan.

"The EA did produce a plan but that would have cost £750,000 and they would not have funded it.

"This scheme would see the creation of a flood bank and clough as well as the installation of a permanent pump which would offer protection to all but two of the 11 properties seriously affected by flooding in 2000.

"All villagers will have the chance to vote whether to back this study from the ward committee's budget."

Project funding he said could come from the council and Regional Flood Defence Committee. However, residents could be expected to pay £15 or £20 extra in tax to help pay for the scheme.

York councillors will be briefed later this month about the city's preparedness for any repeat of the floods of November 2000. At a private seminar to be held before a full council meeting on January 14, senior officers will brief members on steps taken to meet the challenges of another flooding disaster.

"The response should be swifter and more co-ordinated," said emergency planning co-ordinator, Barry Kelly.

Updated: 12:01 Friday, January 03, 2003