MOTORISTS in York and North Yorkshire were being urged to drive carefully today after the region's roads were covered with debris and standing water by strong winds and rain.

A spokeswoman for AA Roadwatch said several trees were blown down on country roads, making some almost impassable.

She said: "There is also a lot of standing water, which poses the problem of spray hazards. We urge drivers to be very cautious and slow down."

City of York Council workers were on hand to lead the clean-up operation.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said no flood warnings were in place in the Vale of York.

He said: "We're monitoring the situation very closely."

Following yesterday's bad weather the Environment Agency today issued nine flood warnings - meaning rivers were expected to burst their banks - for the Midlands, Wales and South-East England, but stressed the incidents would be relatively minor.

Updated: 09:57 Monday, October 08, 2001