Flooding returned to York today, with riverside pubs bearing the brunt of the waters and rush-hour congestion expected as roads were closed.

The Environment Agency said the Ouse was set to peak in York at 7pm this evening at 15ft above normal, the same level as the floods of 1995, but nearly three feet below last November's peak.

The weather forecast is for two dry days, and tourism chiefs have stressed there is no reason for tourists or visitors to York to be concerned.

The A19 through Fulford was likely to be closed by flooding by this evening, and Naburn Lane was already cut off this morning.

There was also flooding in Main Street, Poppleton, Acaster Lane, Bishopthorpe, and Skeldergate, York, where a Land Rover service was operating for elderly City Mills flats residents.

Firefighters had to rescue a van and its driver after it got caught in flooding in Poppleton.

A transit van got stuck in the flood waters in Riverside Gardens at 11am and a fire crew from Acomb fire station attended the scene with a rescue boat. The boat was not launched but firefighters had to use winch equipment to retrieve the van.

A Fire Service spokesman said people were not paying attention to a flood sign at the scene of the flooding, and were trying to pass the road when it was unsuitable.

Vulnerable riverside properties were being supplied with sandbags today by City of York Council.

Pubs including the King's Arms and Lowther pubs were facing yet another watery invasion, and the Ship Inn at Acaster Malbis had water lapping at the door only days before its planned re-opening.

Caroline Hickey, manageress at The Lowther, said she was confident the pub would remain relatively dry.

"We've taken the front door off because it's new and we've had some sandbags delivered. We're still succeeding in keeping the water out.

"The water rose really quickly yesterday but it's slowed down. We're just hoping it doesn't go above 15ft 2ins."

Meanwhile, Naburn residents were shoring up their homes with sandbags and moving their cars out of the way of the flood water.

Jenny Balding, parish council clerk, who lives in Front Street, said: "People are feeling sick to the back teeth."

She said there was three inches of water on the road this morning, but the river appeared to rising at around six inches an hour. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service had a boat on standby for emergencies in Naburn.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said: "There is absolutely no reason for tourists and visitors to be concerned. The city centre is fully accessible and all tourism businesses are operating as normal."

Updated: 12:50 Thursday, February 08, 2001