A mopping-up operation has started after severe flooding on the coastline of northern England.

Work began on Sunday to repair damaged properties in North Yorkshire after drains and watercourses failed to cope with torrential downpours.

On Saturday, about 250 people were rescued from their homes in Filey and other coastal towns as water levels rose to window ledge height.

People living in the worst-affected areas face the prospect of not being able to return home for some time.

In some areas water levels reached three feet

Dave Temple, of Scarborough - which was also hit by flooding - said he was concerned the Victorian drains were not doing their job properly.

"We had a lot of problems here. We had three feet of water," he said.

"Every time we seem to get this sort of rain, the manhole covers blow."

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging people not to return to their homes until they have had them checked thoroughly by an expert.

Station Officer Dave Silversides said it might be weeks before some homes were restored to normal.

Emergency calls

"We are saying to people that they should not be returning to their properties yet but to contact their insurance companies," he said.

"I have been telling people not to go back to their homes and start using electrical appliances before an expert has been to check everything out."

Areas around Scarborough were badly hit

In the worst-affected area in Filey, Parish Fields, the water reached reached three feet and the Fire and Rescue Service was inundated with emergency calls.

"At one point yesterday afternoon we had 159 calls just waiting to be answered," Mr Silversides said.

'Worst flooding'

"It was the worst flooding Filey had ever seen in living memory," he said.

"People who have lived in Filey for over 30 years said they had never known flooding on this scale before."

Friends and neighbours rallied around to take in those who were flooded out.

"People coped really well. They were resigned to the fact it had happened and that it needed to be sorted out," said Mr Silversides.

The water has now started receding and all main roads have reopened.