A NEW flood forecasting centre will warn residents and businesses in the region of impending danger.

The control room will be opened tomorrow by the Environment Agency after several years of severe flooding that cost the region millions of pounds.

Based in Leeds, the centre will predict flooding from north Derbyshire to the Scottish borders.

Mark Tinnion, Environment Agency regional flood risk manager, said: "The opening of this forecasting room is great news for us in terms of being able to provide professional, accurate and timely flood warnings, and also to the 262,000 people living in flood risk areas across the North-East.

"As shown by the severity of the floods the region has suffered in recent years, our ability to monitor and warn people and emergency services about impending flooding can be crucial to protecting people's property and even their lives."

The Environment Agency stressed that householders and businesses still need to be aware of flood warnings and take effective action.

* Flood warnings were issued yesterday after heavy rains caused rivers and streams to burst their banks.

A foot of water from the River Ure flowed over the road at Wensley Bridge, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

Downstream, the Camping and Caravanning Club site, at Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, was on high alert as the river continued to rise.

The Environment Agency issued three flood warnings and five lesser flood-watch warnings in North Yorkshire on the Ouse, Ure and Aire rivers.

A watch warning was also issued for Bridlington Harbour.