The riverside palace of the Archbishop of York was today hit by flooding from the nearby River Ouse.

Water from the swollen river swamped the undercroft, containing the historic building's electricity and central heating systems, and also files and furnishings.

The Archbishop, Dr David Hope, said that the palace at Bishopthorpe had received a flood warning earlier this week, and items, including paintings, pictures, robes, furnishings and historic records, had been moved to higher levels.

The building has been almost surrounded by the floods - the only way in is through the front entrance.

Dr Hope had concerns that if the water rose any higher, the palace's electrical systems - with the meters only a foot or so above the current water levels - might be knocked out.

He said the palace had originally put down about 50 sandbags in an affort to keep out the water, but it had just come up through the floor. The Great Hall and Chapel, at a higher level, were not at risk, he said.

"I would just like to express my sympathy to everyone whose homes have been flooded."