WITH winter on the way people across North Yorkshire are bracing themselves for flooding.

After being caught out in last year's devastating floods, many are taking the opportunity to prepare themselves and their properties before winter sets in.

A Flood Fair, at Harrogate's Great Yorkshire Showground, on Saturday was well timed, with the first of the region's flood warnings issued for the River Ouse, in York, on Friday.

The event was organised by Helen Molyneux, who works for North Yorkshire County Council's risk management unit.

More than 400 people went to the fair to find out more about the products available to protect against flooding, as well as what can be done to restore properties if the worst does happen.

More than 40 companies and organisations from as far away as Scotland and Cornwall were at the event, as well as the Environment Agency, the Fire and Rescue Service and local authorities.