Ryedale residents were put on flood alert this evening following heavy rains while householders across the district were issued with sandbags.

Residents in Welham Road, in Norton, which was hit by some of the worst flooding last year, have been put on 'Flood Warning' by the Environment Agency.

The warning which, according to the Environment Agency, means flooding of homes, businesses and main roads, is imminent came around 4pm today.

"Householders in Pickering, Keldholme, Sinnington, Hovingham, Rosedale, Kirkbymoorside, Kirby Mills and Hutton-le-Hole have received sandbags as water levels continue to rise filling river tributaries," said a spokesman from Ryedale District Council.

The A170 road at Sinnington was severely flooded and gardens of houses in Hugden Close in Pickering were flooded with raw sewage from main drains which had become swollen.

Water levels were continuing to rise this evening as York braced itself for the worst floods so far this year.

A number of roads are expected to be closed in and around the city.

Skeldergate will be closed tomorrow morning to all traffic, and Park and Ride buses using the street will be re-routed.

All roads through Naburn will be closed by morning, and the village itself is expected to be cut off.

Naburn Primary School will be closed.

Elvington Road, in Elvington, is already closed due to the flooding of Elvington Beck. And Acaster Lane, at Acaster Malbis, is already impassable by the Ship Inn.

And one of York's major approaches, Fulford Road, may be closed to traffic around the Fordlands Road junction tomorrow morning.