Environment Agency officials last night said they were increasingly concerned that two areas of West Yorkshire will flood, potentially by this morning.

More than an inch of rain fell yesterday, a month's rainfall in 36 hours, much of it on the Pennine catchments in North and West Yorkshire.

Although nowhere in Yorkshire saw significant flooding yesterday, Environment Agency officials said they were worried that rising water levels in the Dales, combined with the continued blanket of rain expected overnight, could see Yorkshire towns flood today.

Keighley, Skipton and Bingley along the River Aire and Halifax on the River Calder, where flooding is possible were causing particular concern and across the region late last night there was one flood warning for the River Nidd at Cattal, and 12 lesser flood watches.

To make matters worse, the normally porous ground in Yorkshire is saturated from a summer of rainfall and rain cannot sink in, so the whole region is at risk from surface water flooding - which caused so much damage to South and East Yorkshire last summer.

Wales and the South West yesterday bore the brunt of the downpour, with heavy and persistent rainfall causing localised flooding.

Parts of South Wales were expected to receive more than two inches of rain by the end of yesterday.

At one point the Environment Agency had 63 flood watches and 25 flood warnings in place, mainly in Wales. Two severe flood warnings were issued, in Tredegar, Caerphilly, and Aberfan near Merthyr Tydfil.

Forecasters said last night that rain would continue to lash Yorkshire for much of the weekend.

There will be showers and longer periods of rain over most of the region today, improving slightly tomorrow, forcing organisers to cancel a series of planned events.

Today's racing at Thirsk has been abandoned because parts of the course are waterlogged.

Race officials are due to inspect the course at 3.30pm today to decide whether tomorrow's meeting can go ahead as planned.

A statement on the course website read: "We apologise for any inconvenience resulting from the abandonment of racing on Saturday, but the safety of horses and jockeys is our prime concern."

Doncaster Racecourse remains hopeful that the Leger Festival, scheduled to start on Wednesday, will be unaffected.

Clerk of the course David Williams said more than half an inch of rain fell between 7am and 5.30pm yesterday with more expected overnight.

He added the going was likely to be confirmed as "soft" today having been certified as "good" yesterday morning.

"The track has taken the rain fine and the biggest problem we've had so far has been getting all the infrastructure to the course in time for the festival," he said.

"Next week's forecast is looking a little more promising and it changes all the time; we might get some respite on Sunday, when we might even see the sun.

"We haven't raced here since August 2 and the course drains so well so, at the moment, the meet is not under threat."

The third day of Yorkshire's County Championship cricket match against Sussex at Scarborough was washed out without being a ball being bowled yesterday.

And all sports matches that were due to take place on council-owned land in Bradford this weekend have been called off - the first time this has happened as early as September.

A "Haunted Horror Maze fright night" at York Maze was abandoned last night but organisers hope tonight's event will go ahead as scheduled.

Visitors are advised to check the event website - www.yorkmaze.co.uk - or call 01904 415364 for up-to-date information.

A major fundraising event for the RSPCA in Halifax, the K9 Party in the Park, which was due to be held tomorrow has also fallen victim to the weather.

The heavy rainfall prompted Yorkshire Water to issue advice on its website to customers affected by flooding.

Those whose homes have been flooded from the public sewer should contact the company on 0845 124 2424.

Callers should contact the Environment Agency on 0800 807060 or 0845 9881188 if the flooding is coming from a watercourse, such as a river or stream.