Thawing weather and heavy rainfall have triggered a series of flood alerts across England.

Although motorists and rail travellers were able to move more freely after blizzards caused havoc in northern England on Saturday, melting snow and rain led to swollen rivers.

It prompted the Environment Agency to post 11 flood alerts across the country.

Weather conditions improved dramatically across North Yorkshire which had been one of the worst-affected areas.

Sgt Terry Scaife, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "It is all clear.

Improved conditions

"It is actually bright, we have had no further snow. In the north and eastern areas of the county there may have been some slippery roads this morning but it has dramatically improved."

Northumberland had experienced heavy snowfalls on higher ground which had caused travel difficulties.

And in County Durham, the A66 trans-Pennine route - closed on Saturday due to drifting snow - was open and running smoothly.

In Cumbria, most high fell roads remained closed due to Saturday's snow and the main A6 over Shap was still considered passable only with extreme care.

Police were hoping to reopen those main roads remaining closed, including the A592 at the Kirkstone pass and the A686 between Penrith and Alston, on Sunday evening.

Flood warnings

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said no flood warnings had been issued in the county so far but that officers were keeping a close eye on the thaw.

Weather forecasts pointed to milder temperatures but heavy rainfalls in some areas.

There were five flood warnings in the Midlands, including the river at Burton to Castle Donington, Cromwell to Weir and Rowsley to Ambergate, and six flood watches, one step down from a warning, in the Anglia and north-west areas of England.

The blizzard conditions on Saturday brought chaos across northern England's roads.

A driver was killed on the A19 in Durham when his car slid on slush.

Rescue helicopters battled against appalling conditions to airlift people to safety as snowdrifts up to 20 feet paralysed some areas.