FLOOD-THREATENED parts of North Yorkshire remained on a knife-edge today, waiting for river levels to reach their peaks following record rainfalls.

While York appeared to have escaped any major flooding, a severe flood warning was put in place on the River Ure at Boroughbridge as waters from its tributary the River Tutt starting rising rapidly.

The Environment Agency said the problem had been caused by a fault at a pumping station in Boroughbridge.

Agency workers and staff from Harrogate Borough council were hoping to stabilise the situation.

A severe flood warning remained in place on Pickering Beck at Pickering.

A new flood warning was put on the River Wharfe at Tadcaster early this morning, where Bridge Street and riverside properties were at risk, and people in Malton and Norton were still facing an anxious wait with the swollen River Derwent not expected to peak until between 8.30pm and 9pm tonight.

The river was expected to peak at between 3.7m and 4m.

A flood warning was also in place on Cop Beck at Stutton, near Tadcaster.

A flood warning remained in place today for riverside properties on the Derwent at Stamford Bridge.

Flood warnings were also still in place for the Derwent at Norton, Castlegate, Malton, Malton Railway Station, Town Street, Old Malton, Old Malton Green and Welham Road, Norton.

The River Nidd at Knaresborough, which had a flood warning in place, was given the all-clear today.

In York, the floods were said to have had a "limited impact".

The city's multi-agency flood group stood down today. It prediced a rise of less than four metres.

The Environment Agency and City of York Council sandbagged riverside properties. The group estimated less than 20 properties would be affected.

St George's Field and Esplanade car parks were closed due to flooding.

Tockwith and District Show has been cancelled because the field site is saturated.

Updated: 09:49 Saturday, August 03, 2002