CLEAN-UP teams have moved in to deal with blockages which pose the risk of creating major flood problems on North Yorkshire rivers.

The Environment Agency (EA) is carrying out an operation to remove trees, branches and overgrown vegetation on stretches of water throughout the Pickering area in a bid to keep the homes of people living nearby safe during rainy spells.

The work is taking place at several locations, including Butterwick Bridge on the River Rye and Pickering Beck, with the agency saying it hopes to complete the scheme early next year depending on weather conditions.

The clear-up is part of the EA’s regular programme of watercourse maintenance and focuses on dealing with objects which can block channels or trap more debris, leading to natural dams being created.

Pete Freer, of the EA’s operations team, said: “This work will make a huge difference to the area.

“At Butterwick Bridge, a growth of willows on the riverbank was sprawling right across the river just upstream of the bridge.

“When trees and branches get wedged against bridge arches or stuck at other pinch points, more debris builds up behind them.

“During a flood, it is too dangerous to remove the trees, so we regularly check watercourses and carry out preventive work to remove as many potential obstructions as possible before flooding happens.”

The EA said the project would ensure any protected species and their habitats would be undisturbed and that, as work at Butterwick Bridge has now been completed, staff will now move further downstream to Newsham Bridge.

The Pickering Beck aspect of the scheme is taking place along a two-kilometre stretch from Barker Stakes Farm to Lendales Firm, near Kirby Misperton Bridge, where trees are being thinned.

This slice of work should be finished later this month.