York braced as Ouse levels peak

The 2000 floods were the worst in York since records began

Sandbags have been stacked across streets in York as the River Ouse rose to just one metre below the flood levels of 2000.

Flood plains around the city have been covered by several feet of water. St George's car park, Skeldergate and part of the A19 at Fulford remain closed.

Roads in the outlying villages of Naburn and Poppelton were also shut because of rising water levels.

The river peaked at 4.36 metres above normal levels.

The Environment Agency said it was now expected to subside.

More rain expected

Colin Atkinson, from the agency, said it was keeping an eye on the river levels on the Ouse, Foss, Swale and Ure rivers, but was not expecting them to rise much further.

"We are not expecting any major problems at all now," he said.

"We are monitoring the situation but at the moment there's no cause for major concern."

More heavy rain is forecast over the weekend, but Mr Atkinson said it was not expected to be enough to cause the river to rise by as much as it had on Friday.