forecasters last night warned the North-East to brace itself for further atrocious weather as emergency services struggled to hold back rising flood waters.

And with many fields already water-logged and rivers running dangerously high, experts warned of further flood misery ahead.

Before then, a Meteorological Office spokesman said further bad weather was expected to hit the region by lunchtime today, with the possibility of another inch of rain falling.

"Rainfall amounts could be 25 to 30mm which, with the flooding the North-East has already suffered this week, won't do the situation any good at all," he said.

Further storms were likely on Sunday, as early forecasts predict rain and severe gales.

The Environment Agency said the situation in the Darlington and Cleveland areas, as well as the Tyne, Wear and Tees valleys, was being closely monitored.

Severe flood warnings were issued in North Yorkshire yesterday and the Army was called in to aid desperate homeowners.

Homes and businesses throughout York suffered after the city was hit by one of the worst floods in 100 years.

Hundreds of soldiers were on stand-by to distribute sandbags throughout the day, as the River Ouse peaked at just over five metres. Water levels were expected to drop last night, but City of York Council emergency planning co-ordinator John Simmons warned that rivers would still be high for several days.

The Environment Agency said 170 city centre businesses had been at risk yesterday, with pubs and restaurants bearing the brunt.

Floodwaters also swamped the riverside palace of the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, who said paintings, robes and historic artefacts at Bishopthorpe had to be moved to higher levels.

Schools were badly hit, with an Army snowcat vehicle needed to ferry children from Fulford St Oswald's primary school to classes.

And one of the country's largest fire engines was brought out of the Yorkshire Air Museum to come to the aid of residents in the Clifton area.

A police escort brought the 35-tonne Pathfinder machine, formerly used by Manchester International Airport, into the city.

www.environment-agency.gov.u