FLOOD warnings have been issued for parts of the region due to rising river levels caused by rainfall and melting snow.

The Environment Agency issued a series of flood alerts last night and some warnings have already been activated, mostly around Teesside and North Yorkshire.

Showers overnight and this morning have seen flood warnings put in place at various locations on the Rivers Esk, Seven, Derwent and Ouse.

The areas of concern included properties in Lealholm, adjacent to the River Esk, and people were urged to avoid using low lying footpaths and roads near local watercourses, from Briggswath to Ruswarp.

The river level is expected to peak this morning, with some surrounding farmland at risk of flooding.

The river levels on the Tees and tributaries also rose overnight and are likely to remain high throughout Tuesday.

The Government flood information service said last night: “We do not expect to have to issue any flood warnings with the current forecast.

“Main impacts are currently forecast at Yarm but river levels will be high across the catchment.

“Please avoid using low lying footpaths and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads.

“We are closely monitoring the situation.”

Trash screens were cleared and incident response staff are understood to have shut Yarm flood gates at about 7.30pm last night.

The flood warning for the River Seven at Sinnington and at Marton remains in force, with alerts around the Rivers Riccal, Dove and Rye and Pickering Beck and Costa beck.

A flood warning also remains in force for the River Derwent at Buttercrambe Mill, with properties at Buttercrambe at risk. 

The flood alert for the River Wiske and tributaries to the confluence with the River Swale remain in force due to levels on Cod Beck. Flooding of roads and farmland is possible, the areas said to be most at risk are low lying land and roads around Kirby Sigston.

It is hoped the River Leven has already peaked, but the public is reminded to avoid riverside footpaths and low lying roads. The penstocks upstream of Stokesley were closed last night and a diversion channel operated.

Flooding of the Upper River Swale, around Reeth, and Lower River Swale, in the Maunby area, remains possible.

Riverside properties at York and Naburn Lock are at risk of flooding. Water levels on the River Ouse are likely to rise throughout the day with an expected peak at the Viking recorder of between 3.3m and 3.6m tonight.

The Met Office forecasts a return of the colder weather, with snow expected to fall across much of the region on Thursday.

For the most up-to-date information for your area visit flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings or metoffice.gov.uk