Flood alerts linger after 'relentless' rain

Several flood alerts and flood warnings remain in place in parts of Yorkshire following weeks of wet weather.

One flood warning and four flood alerts are in place for the region, with saturated ground and already-swollen rivers making flooding likely in some areas.

Forecasters said the cause had been a weather pattern stuck in a "blocked" position for the last few weeks and there are signs of a very brief change before rain returns.

BBC climate correspondent Paul Hudson, said: "In 70 days since 1 December at Sheffield Weston Park, there's been nine inches (22cm) of rain, which is 114% of what we'd normally receive, on average."

He said: "There is no doubt that the weather has been relentlessly overcast and wet for weeks, with weather patterns stuck in a rut.

"The land is now saturated, but, so far, what has prevented any real flooding issues is that much of the rain that has fallen has not been heavy.

"But, until warmer and drier weather arrives in spring, our regions rivers will remain at risk of flooding, should any rainfall in what's left of winter turn heavier."

The Environment Agency is advising the public to "remain vigilant to the risk of significant flooding" as further rain is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.

There is currently a flood warning, which means flooding is expected,for the River Ouse at York, with flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, issued for parts of the River Went in West Yorkshire and the River Derwent in North Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, councillors at Fishlake in Doncaster, where a flood alert was lifted on Tuesday afternoon, are set to discuss what long term support the Environment Agency can give them to avoid flooding.

Fishlake which was badly hit in the floods in 2019 when the River Don burst its banks.

Wendy Brownbridge, a church warden at St Cuthbert's in Fishlake, said: "The scary bit is at night when you can't see anything and it's throwing it down with rain and you never know what's happening further up the river at Sheffield.

"How can you prepare for flooding and move your furniture anywhere. You just can't and it's about losing everything."

Ahead of a parish council meeting on Tuesday, Peter Trimmingham, a Fishlake flood warning, added: "We know there won't be a great injection of finance at this time, but we want an eye on it.

"We are looking carefully at what plans are coming up with the Environment Agency, to see what can be done and what is realistic."

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