FEARS over flooding across the region subsided yesterday as the 48-hour torrential downpour ended in sunshine.

Flood warnings on dozens of waterways across the region were called off by environmental officers, who feared rivers and streams would burst their banks after the deluge.

Officers from the Environment Agency worked round the clock monitoring river levels across the North, especially in Yorkshire and on Teesside, which were worst affected.

In York, the River Ouse peaked at about 3.7 metres above normal, almost two metres lower than in autumn 2000, when the country was devastated by widespread floods, and some floodgates remained closed as a precaution.

Floodgates on the River Tees were also closed in Croft and Yarm while high waters passed through each yesterday morning, while Lustrum Beck was closely monitored.

Police in North Yorkshire were yesterday becoming increasingly frustrated by drivers ignoring roads closed because of flooding.

Just after 1pm, one man had to be rescued from the roof of his car after he ignored a road closed due to flooding sign in Boroughbridge Road, in Bishop Monkton, near Ripon, North Yorkshire.

At about 5pm, firefighters were called to rescue a family of four trapped in their car on a minor road between Barton-le-Street and Butterwick, near Malton, North Yorkshire. It was unclear if the road had been closed.