Yorkshire flood warnings are scaled back

In the event, a handful of homes in Cumbria and Lancashire were affected.

Heavy rainfall in northern England and Wales yesterday had caused surging river levels to teeter to near bursting point, leading to the agency issuing 28 flood warnings in the worst-hit communities.

Rain continued to fall today on already waterlogged ground but it was far from the levels experienced earlier this weekend.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "The picture is improving. There are still a number of flood alerts and flood warnings in place but they are expected to reduce overnight.

"The peak of our concern for flooding has now passed. A few properties flooded in the North West but we had been concerned about tens of properties.

"Thankfully that did not materialise."

A flood warning means flooding is expected and that immediate reaction is required, according to the agency.

Gemma Plumb, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said Capel Curig in Conwy, North Wales, saw the highest level of rainfall, with 26mm recorded today. That was far from the 105mm seen there yesterday however.

Further rain is expected in southern England and Wales tomorrow. The rest of the week will see a drier, but altogether colder, Britain with the risk of wintry showers in Scotland.

The Environment Agency reduced the number of flood warnings to 27 this morning, while 69 flood alerts were in place in areas where flooding was a possibility.

Meanwhile, the Met Office issued a severe weather warning of heavy rain across Wales, with 15 to 25mm expected to fall in most regions throughout the day. Bursts of up to 50mm are expected in high areas.

Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland and Yorkshire were also warned of heavy rain for the first half of today.