Warnings over flooding for rivers Aire and Calder after more heavy rain forecast

The Environment Agency (EA) has five flood warnings in place for parts of the river Aire after rain was forecast for Wednesday.

Water levels are slowly falling but remain high at Fairburn Ings, near Castleford, and sluices have been opened to start emptying the Ings, the EA said.

Barnsdale Road near Allerton Bywater is impassable and people are being advised not to walk or drive through the flood water.

Water levels at Mickleton Ings are also expected to remain high and a flood warning is in place for the river Aire at Birkin.

The EA said on its website: “River levels are continuing to fall along the non-tidal River Aire, although the surrounding wash lands are high and will remain high for some time. “Please be aware that the weather forecast for Wednesday is for further, potentially heavy, rainfall.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and flood alerts and warnings will be reissued as required.”

Nine flood alerts, which mean flooding is possible, are also in place for parts of the rivers Ouse, Calder, Aire and Spen, and for surrounding becks.

The alerts cover the Calder lower catchment near Alverthorpe and Ings Beck and Oakenshaw Beck in Wakefield.

The EA said: “Please be aware that there may still be standing water and debris around so remain aware of your surroundings.”