THE cost of repairing flood damaged roads and bridges in North Yorkshire is expected to top £3m, the county council has said.

Priority routes in the worst affected areas have already been reopened, but a number of roads and bridges around Thirlby, near Thirsk, and Hawnby, near Helmsley, are still impassable.

The area was devastated by recent flash floods when a month's rain fell in a few hours. The county council said that the road from Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe to Thirlby will have to be totally rebuilt.

Engineers are also rebuilding Sutton North bridge. The structure will be strengthened so it can cope with heavy vehicles that will need to use the route to help with the restoration of properties damaged by the flood water.

Work on both the bridge and the road should be completed by the middle of this month.

Major work is also needed on the minor road between Osmotherley and Hawnby where three culverts were lifted by the flood water leaving 12 metre gaps in the surface.

Mike Moore, director of environmental services at the council, said: "Engineers across the area are completing a detailed assessment of precisely what work needs to be done. That work will be carried out over the coming weeks and months.