Parts of Selby remained on red alert today after troops shored up weakened flood defences before a new downpour swept in from the west.

Although river levels dropped by up to 3ft overnight at Barlby, residents were still holding their breath, hoping repaired flood defences would hold after a furtherz one to two inches of rain were forecast during today and tomorrow.

Environment Agency engineers were inspecting the repaired flood defences at Barlby before giving them the all-clear.

An agency spokesman said: "Barlby is still under a severe flood warning and is not out of the woods yet.

"We are now looking ahead to Thursday when today's rain will be coming down the Ouse to Selby, and river levels will almost certainly rise again.

"Plans are being prepared in case further repairs are needed or flood defences need to be temporarily raised.

"The defences at Barlby have never had to withstand such pressure before and are being given the severest test they've ever had."

It was a black weekend for Selby. The area was hit by a "double whammy", with power cut off to 17,000 homes and businesses on Saturday morning after a sub-station flooded at Osgodby.

Ten generators were brought in to restore power, but more than 200 properties were still without light and heat.

The Selby pit complex was at a standstill because of insufficient electricity to power its coal-cutting equipment and coal-carrying conveyor belts.

The complex's 2,300 miners were redeployed to maintenance work, costing RJB Mining about £1 million a day.

Selby High, Brayton High and Barlby High schools were closed today along with Barlby Hill Top, Barlby Bridge, Riccall, Barwic Parade, and St Mary's RC primary schools.

Selby railway station was closed just before 5pm on Saturday but is now operating a shuttle service.

Over the weekend, helpers strengthened and repaired damaged flood banks along Barlby Road using thousands of sandbags, waterproof material, rock and rubble.

Environment Agency area manager Craig McGarvey said: "We have to make sure the flood defences don't collapse, which would result in a large deluge.

"The flood plains and drains are full and more rain could lead to localised flooding."

He said water seeping through the flood defences had scoured and weakened the clay and earth banks.

Until the all clear was given on the defence repairs the agency advised evacuated residents not to return home.

About 250 homes have been flooded and about 50 stranded families were today at the emergency accommodation centre at Brayton High School.

Parish councillors at Cawood are up in arms after about 30 sandbags were taken from the Ferry Inn car park flood defence and stacked in front of the pub's front door after the inn had closed.

Coun John Cattanach said: "This was done on mischief night. It was a mindless act which we could well do without at this time."

Selby MP John Grogan said Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who visited the area yesterday, had indicated that some of the extra £51 million set aside by the Government for new flood defences could be allocated to Barlby.

Mr Grogan said as soon as the crisis was over he would meet the Environment Agency and British Waterways to put together a bid.

He praised the troops from Dishforth, saying: "They are doing a fantastic job repairing the flood defences. Without them, many more parts of Selby and Barlby would be under water today."

Barlby parish councillor Brian Marshall said: "The next 48 hours will be crucial - if the wall opposite the BOCM factory gives, the area would be flooded within minutes."