Residents in York were this afternoon bracing themselves for more flooding, with the River Ouse expected to peak tomorrow just three feet below the record level reached during the November floods.

The Environment Agency is expecting the Ouse to reach a height of 15 feet above normal some time in the early evening tomorrow.

The river peaked at nearly 18 feet above normal when the worst floods in 400 years hit in November last year.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said some properties would flood, but stressed: "We are not looking at anything near the type of event we had in November."

Continuing snow melt up in the Dales made the river rise quickly in York today, sparking flood warnings at St George's Field Car Park, Terry Avenue, Naburn, Naburn Lock and riverside footpaths in the city between Clifton Bridge and Fulford and Ouse Bridge and Bishopthorpe.

Mike Hartley, manager of the Kings Arms, in King's Staith, said the water was a matter of inches away from coming into his pub once again. Given the predicted peak level, Mr Hartley said he expected the pub to be flooded by tomorrow. "We're stripping the pub out," he said. "We're geared up for minimum damage this time."

Updated: 14:29 Wednesday, February 07, 2001