FOUR flood warnings have been issued in North Yorkshire following heavy rainfall.

The Environment Agency said river levels had risen rapidly due to saturated river catchment areas.

It has issued warnings for the Bishop Monkton Beck, near Ripon, the River Nidd at Knaresborough, Cattall, near Boroughbridge and Pocklington Beck, near York, and is closely monitoring river levels elsewhere.

Forecasters said the rain would continue until tomorrow (Friday, December 21), but more heavy rain was expected on Saturday.

The agency’s warnings came as North Yorkshire County Council launched an investigation into how surface water caused floods in places such as Ripon during downpours last month and how such deluges might be prevented in the future.

Meanwhile, the agency is leading a drive to prevent further flooding in the Malton area as water levels have begun to rise due to prolonged rainfall.

The police and fire service are on standby as water levels are expected to rise in the Derwent catchment area over the weekend.