YORK Millennium Bridge should open unscathed by flooding next week - providing weathermen have got their forecasts right.

Two flood warnings were in place today for the River Ouse in York following heavy rainfall.

The Environment Agency said riverside footpaths between Clifton Bridge and Fulford were at risk from rising water levels. But Paul Chesmore, chief executive of the York Millennium Bridge Trust, said he was hopeful that Tuesday's opening ceremony would go ahead without problems.

He said weathermen were predicting drier weather after today.

And even if the approaches to the bridge were flooded tomorrow from water coming down from the Dales, he would expect levels to recede before Tuesday, provided the forecasts were correct. "We are keeping our fingers crossed," he said.

"We have had calls in to the Environment Agency for the last two or three days and they tell us we should be OK."

He said emergency plans were in place for a clean-up operation on Monday if any mud had been deposited by floodwaters over the weekend.

The construction of the Lottery-funded pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Ouse has been badly hit by flooding, particularly last November when the river rose higher than at any time in hundreds of years.

But Mr Chesmore said everything was ready for the opening ceremony on Tuesday morning, when the Lord Mayor, Coun Shan Braund, will cut a ribbon to allow people to cross the river from Rowntree Park to New Walk.

The car park at St George's Field and the riverside walk next to Skeldergate Bridge were clear of floodwaters earlier today as the drizzly rain continued, with the Ouse a few inches off the top of the banks near the bridge.

Meanwhile, a flood watch was in place today for rivers and streams leading from the North York Moors. An Environment Agency spokeswoman said: "We're monitoring the situation closely, but I think we had most of the rain we were expecting last night."

Updated: 13:18 Saturday, April 07, 2001