Yorkshire Water responds to flooding concerns raised by Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan and council leader Denise Jeffery

Imran Ahmad Khan MP and Councillor Denise Jeffery suggested a "deficiency" in Yorkshire Water's underground works had nearly caused floodwater to seep into homes in Horbury Bridge after heavy rainfall last month.

The pair wrote a joint letter, which was published on Twitter on Thursday, to the agency's chief executive highlighting the issue and requested an "urgent meeting".

In response today, Yorkshire Water says it would welcome the opportunity "to discuss this complex issue further with local representatives", and that it already has a meeting booked with Wakefield Council to discuss it.

A spokesperson for the agency, which is responsible for most of the region's drainage systems, added: "We understand the disruption and upset caused by flooding and we’re liaising with the residents who’ve been affected to clean up.

"Our teams have been working around the clock to respond to customers across Yorkshire as we’ve seen record ground water levels which means rainfall is falling on already saturated ground and intensifying the issue.

"Flooding of this nature is complex and requires us to work closely with partners like Wakefield Council and the Environment Agency to manage the ongoing flood risk in the area."

A small number of properties in Wakefield were hit by flooding in late-January. Several roads were also closed after the downpours.

It came just 11 months after Storms Ciara and Dennis devastated dozens of homes and businesses in Horbury Bridge.

On January 25 this year, Wakefield Council's flood risk manager said that maintaining local defences was an "ongoing problem" because local authorities are only given a "small budget" to do so.

Local Democracy Reporting Service