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River levels across North Yorkshire reach their peak Homes and businesses flooded in North Yorkshire town
(about 3 hours later)
Water levels in rivers across North Yorkshire appear to have reached their peak, according to the Environment Agency. Residents in a North Yorkshire town are cleaning up after their homes were flooded in heavy rainfall.
The agency had said it was concerned that overnight rain could increase the risk of flooding, but it now hoped that water levels would drop during the day. The Environment Agency said a "handful of properties" in the town of Malton had been flooded.
Emergency services have been pumping out water in the Malton area, where surface flooding remains a problem. One resident said she had never seen the village as severely affected.
More than 30 flood warnings are in place across North Yorkshire. Susie Taylor said: "We bought a house just three months before the first of the really bad floods 12 to 13 years ago, so I've seen pictures of it like this before, but this is really bad."
Pete Stevenson, from the Environment Agency, said: "We've worked with the fire service and Ryedale District Council to put pumps in place at Old Malton, Chandlers Wharf and the Church Street area of Norton and these pumps have been keeping water levels in check. 'Time and money'
"We hope that will continue to be the case." Another resident, Ashley Cooke, said his home had been flooded and that his newly-opened carpet shop in the town was under threat.
Peter Hudson, from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, said he believed the water levels in Malton would start to come down soon. He said: "There has been a lot of hours, time and money being put into the business with people putting all their effort into trying to rush it before Christmas, and obviously all the floods could just wash it all away."
He said: "Hopefully, once this rain that has fallen overnight has come through, we do expect by late afternoon that we will see those water levels reducing. A number of roads in the town and surrounding area have been closed.
Resident of Old Malton Susie Taylor said she had never seen the village flooded this severely before. The Environment Agency said it was continuing a pumping operation in the area in conjunction with the local council and fire service, and that surface water remained a problem.
"We bought a house just three months before the first of the really bad floods 12 to 13 years ago, so I've seen pictures of it like this before, but this is really very bad." The agency said it was continuing to monitor the situation as more rain was predicted later over the North York Moors, and the River Derwent was expected to peak on Thursday morning.
The Environment Agency said the River Ouse in York had reached a level of 4.5m (14ft 9in). More than 30 flood warnings are still in place across North Yorkshire.
York City Council said that it was supporting a series of measures to help residents whose homes had been affected by flooding. Low incomes
Elsewhere, York City Council said that it was supporting a series of measures to help residents whose homes had been affected by flooding.
The council said that people on low incomes who were not fully insured could apply for help from the York Disaster Fund charity.The council said that people on low incomes who were not fully insured could apply for help from the York Disaster Fund charity.
Other help includes benefit advice and temporary relief from council tax for people whose homes are uninhabitable and for businesses forced to close.Other help includes benefit advice and temporary relief from council tax for people whose homes are uninhabitable and for businesses forced to close.
An animal refuge in Selby has appealed for food and pet supplies after being inundated with wild animals displaced by flood water.
Selby Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation said it had received a number of hedgehogs and birds, including a tawny owl.