Flood all-clear as beck retreats

Wyke Beck pictured during the summer floods of 2007

Homes put on alert after water levels rose dramatically at Wyke Beck in east Leeds have been given the all-clear.

The fire service was called to pump water away from the A64 at Seacroft after the beck rose by a metre in 15 minutes on Wednesday night.

The Environment Agency (EA) issued a warning for homes in the Fearnville, Halton and Harehills area of the city.

The warnings have now been withdrawn. The EA said residents had tested new flood defences during the alert.

In June 70 homes near Wyke Beck were fitted with individual flood defences, such as door and airbrick covers, costing up to £3,000 per house.

The area was one of only six in the UK selected to take part in the pilot scheme, funded by the council and the government.

Area flood risk manager Mike Dugher said: "Wyke Beck like many urban watercourses responds very quickly to heavy rainfall.

"The beck rose by over a metre in 15 minutes, triggering the Environment Agency's warning system, which in turn prompted residents to deploy the flood resistance equipment at their houses for the first time.

"Thankfully no properties were flooded."

The area was badly affected during the summer floods last year, with homes on the Dunhill estate in Halton suffering the worst damage.