FLOODING problems are to be investigated in four separate communities in the Selby district after a new report revealed just how many properties were inundated last winter.

The North Yorkshire County Council report says 79 properties were flooded in Tadcaster when the River Wharfe burst its banks on Boxing Day, peaking at about 0.7 metres higher than its previous recorded high on October 31, 2000.

Another 16 were flooded at Ulleskelf, 14 at Brotherton and Kirkby Wharfe, six at Fairburn, five at Newton Kyme and four at Acaster Selby.

"In Ulleskelf and Kirkby Wharfe, properties were flooded on the southern extent of the adjacent Ings and within the natural floodplain of the River

Wharfe," said David Bowe, corporate director, business and environmental services, in the report to a Selby area committee meeting next week.

He said the flooding could be explained by examining contrasting rainfall patterns during 2015: between January and October, rainfall in North Yorkshire was below or near the normal average, but in both November and December, it was approximately double the normal average.

"The November and December rainfall therefore resulted in saturated ground in many parts of the county," he said. "Heavy and often very intense rainfall associated with named storms Desmond, Eva and Frank then resulted in flooding, generally associated with surface water and watercourses, and in several parts of the county."

Mr Bowe said the report provided an overview of the extent and scale of the flooding issues in the district and, in accordance with the North Yorkshire Local Flood Risk Strategy, all the recorded incidents would continue to be reviewed and monitored.

"Wherever possible, mitigation measures will be pursued in conjunction with the relevant Risk Management Authorities and land owners," he said.

"In addition to this, specific further investigation and review will be carried out in the following locations, reflecting the scale, nature, impact and wider context of the flooding experienced: Tadcaster, Ulleskelf, Brotherton and Kirkby Wharfe."

The report comes only days after an independent report about the Tadcaster floods and bridge collapse was published by local businessman Brian Percival, which criticised several organisations including the county council over the bridge's failure and the severity of the flooding.