York is finally getting back to business after almost two weeks of floods disruption.

Traffic was once again flowing today along Tower Street - a key route through the city centre - after Ouse floodwaters receded.

And council engineers were hoping to reopen the main A19 route into York at Fulford by tomorrow.

Now traders are hoping shoppers will once again pack the city centre over the weekend to catch up on some much-missed retail therapy.

Retailers hope business will return to normal levels after being hit by a triple whammy over the past three months - the fuel crisis, disruption to rail travel in the wake of the Hatfield crash and the floods.

"This is the start of a very significant period for retailers and also the hotel, guest house and leisure sector," said Roland Harris, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce.

"We are anxious and also optimistic that we will now see a return to more normal levels of business."

Major retailers WH Smith and Woolworth in Coney Street are both back in business after being closed by the floods earlier this week, and the Grand Opera House - where the bar, foyer and orchestra pit were flooded out - will be reopening on Sunday with a performance by tribute band Abba Gold.

Nick Brown, of Browns department store, said: "We have to make sure people understand the city is easily accessible again and is a pleasurable place to visit."

Meanwhile, the Evening Press is to help in the recovery drive by hosting a top-level meeting next week planned to develop a "business as usual" strategy for the city.

Tourism and leisure, retailers and City of York Council economic development representatives will all attend the meeting, organised by the Chamber of Commerce.

"Let's start planning now to get ourselves out of this situation and get back to a normal trading position as quickly as possible," Mr Harris said today.

He added that the vast majority of shops, hotels and guest houses were open for business.

Evening Press editor Liz Page said: "We have worked flat out to assist the emergency services in getting their message across each day during the floods crisis.

"Now we are delighted to host this important meeting which will bring home the positive message that York city centre is back in business."

York's revival comes as weathermen predicted North Yorkshire will be one of the driest parts of the country this weekend after rain tonight. The area is expected to enjoy sunny spells and a few showers over the weekend, escaping torrential rains which will hit the south.

Insurance companies could be facing a bill of up to ten million pounds in the wake of North and East Yorkshire's flooding disaster, in which almost 1,000 homes have been inundated.

But one leading insurer has reassured customers that they are unlikely to face major premium increases.

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