RIVER levels in York continued to rise again today as the city continued mopping up after being drenched by heavy rain.

The River Ouse in the city centre has now broken through the 12ft mark and, despite a break in the rain, was expected to get even higher today as water poured into it from higher ground following yesterday's downpours.

Flood warnings are still in place between Clifton Bridge and Millennium Bridge covering the riverside footpaths, Skeldergate, Peckitt Street, Rowntree Park, Bishopthorpe, Fulford and St George's Field with some owners of buildings along the banks of the Ouse using sandbags to defend their properties.

The Environment Agency is continuing to issue similar warnings on the River Foss, the River Derwent at Stamford Bridge and Buttercrambe Mill, and the River Wharfe at Tadcaster and Ulleskelf.

However, the floods which closed the Main Street in Elvington, near York, had receded after a blocked pump caused water to cover the road yesterday.

And rail services were also expected to return to normal during this morning after trains were prevented from running between Leeds and both Harrogate and York yesterday.

But drivers were being warned that today's colder weather could affect their journeys, while the Met Office is predicting more outbreaks of rain tonight and further wet weather towards the weekend.