YORK is prepared and able to cope if a rapid thaw melts the snow on the Pennines and brings floodwater down the River Ouse.

The city council has 40,000 sandbags and 300 tonnes of sand in store, similar to the quantities it had at the time of the 2000 floods.

It is also keeping in touch with the Environment Agency which monitors river levels and flood risks.

Council leader Andrew Waller said: “If the worst happens, we are prepared. We have a well rehearsed flood plan and we are keeping an eye out at the moment in case we need it.”

He said forecasters were not expecting a fast thaw and as of Wednesday there were nine inches of snow lying on the hills that were drained by the River Ouse and its tributaries, which equates to about an inch of rain. He said even if this melted all at once, it was unlikely to produce a large flood.

East Riding of Yorkshire County Council said it too was able to cope with any flooding as a result of melting ice and snow.

A spokesman said: “The council is alert to and prepared for the possibility of some flooding with the thaw but the forecast here is for a slow thaw and continuing very cold temperatures causing re-freezing so it is low risk at present time.”

A North Yorkshire County Council spokesman said: “We have flood plans in place and we have been talking to our partners at the Environment Agency and the Met Office.

“There would be cause for concern if there was a very rapid thaw and rain was falling at the same time but at the moment there is not a concern.”

The Met Office is forecasting temperatures to rise on Sunday, with the coast set to see the thermometer hit 5c or 6c. Inland temperatures are expected to rise to a couple of degrees above freezing in the Vale of York. Snow is forecast every day until Sunday.

In 1982, York was hit by devastating floods after a spell of heavy snow was followed by a rapid thaw.