YORK is used to coping with floods.

Normally, they are of the natural variety caused by heavy rain and the vagaries of the weather.

Yesterday's, however, occurred on the hottest day of the year, when there was not a rain cloud in sight.

A power failure confused a water gauge so that it mistakenly registered zero pressure. That led the city's water pumps to automatically crank up leading to a spate of burst mains pipes.

Whatever the cause, what cannot be denied is the apparent promptness and efficiency with which Yorkshire Water and other agencies sprang into action to try to ensure York people did not suffer more than necessary.

An incident room was set up, bottled water was distributed to affected homes, and houses which had been flooded were visited and promised a clean-up and an electrical safety check.

Inevitably, there have been some grumbles from householders about the inconvenience and the fact they will need to claim for damage on their own insurance.

But Yorkshire Water has promised to pay any excess and says householders' premiums won't suffer, because it will reimburse insurers.

We don't always shower Yorkshire Water with praise.

But in its response to York's day of water torture, it seems to have got things largely right.