A COMMUNITY is returning to normal following severe flooding in Teesside last week.

High Clarence Primary School in Stockton reopened yesterday, after high water levels had closed it for almost a week. The school's nursery was expected to be open as usual today.

Port Clarence Road, in Stockton, was opened to traffic at 6pm yesterday, after flooding made it impassable for days.

Neil Schneider, Stockton council's director of housing and contract services, said: "The waters have been cleared and our street cleansing teams will be working flat-out during the next few days to clear the debris left by the floods."

Council officers have worked to pump flood water away and clear blocked drains.

Sandbags were stacked by the side of the road through High and Port Clarence to steer water away from homes and into drains.

l Work to restore a bridge severely damaged by flooding is due to get under way soon.

A temporary road bridge is to be put in place at Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, after the village's bridge was extensively damaged.

North Yorkshire County Council engineers say it needs a full reconstruction and work will begin soon.

The swing bridge at Cawood, near York, also needs an inspection and traffic across the former toll bridge at Selby is being restricted.

l Tourism bosses in flood-hit York are keen to send out the message that it is still open for business.

York Tourism Bureau is planning to win over thousands of travel and trade operators at the World Travel Market exhibition at Earl's Court in London this week.

The organisation says it is hoping to let the travel trade know that most of the city centre has remained unaffected by the flooding.

Marketing manager Craig Wilson said: "The floods have had a devastating effect on some of York's residents and businesses, but it is very important, now that the floods are receding, that we continue to promote York as one of Britain's best holiday destinations.

"York's successful economy depends heavily on its tourism business. Tourism creates an estimated 9,000 jobs in York and is worth more than £250m to the local economy. York is very much open for business.