HOUSEHOLDS across the region were last night on the alert for flooding, although the threat of a 2000-style catastrophe seemed to be receding.

The levels of the Ouse and the Derwent, in North Yorkshire, were continuing to drop yesterday, although flood warnings were still in place in York, Stamford Bridge, Naburn Lock and Buttercrambe.

Flood watches, the lowest stage of warning, were also in place for Cleveland and Darlington, the North York Moors, Swaledale, Wensleydale and the Vale of York.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "The general prognosis is that the level of the Ouse and the Derwent will continue to drop. Not a great deal of rain is forecast for the next few days and it looks as if this region is going to come off lightly compared with the South."

John Burns, an agency spokesman in the North-East, said flood warnings in the region were expected to be lifted today and tomorrow.

He said the rain had been persistent rather than heavy and that the region's rivers had spare capacity.

Rowntree Park, in York, was closed yesterday for safety reasons.

A city council spokesman said: "While the park is not flooded, the amount of rain and run-off from surrounding streets has meant the lake is about a foot too high and covering the lakeside path. We cannot empty the lake out until the river levels drop so it is likely to be shut for the weekend."

Firefighters in County Durham were dealing with minor flooding in Peterlee, Oakenshaw, Wingate and Willington last night.

There was some flooding near Heighington village, between Darlington and Newton Aycliffe, where a vehicle was abandoned after breaking down while being driven through floodwaters.

A spokeswoman for Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue said: "We haven't had very many calls at all and nothing very serious."

Emergency services and councils throughout the rest of the region said there had been no reports of flooding.

"It has been raining considerably today so it could well change overnight and we are on standby," said a spokeswoman for Cleveland Fire Brigade.

Last night, there were still two severe flood warnings, in East Anglia and the Thames region.

There were 131 flood warnings - 43 in East Anglia, 23 in the Midlands, 21 in the South, 19 in the South-West, 17 in the Thames, and eight in the North-East, including Yorkshire - and 256 flood watches, one notch lower than a flood warning.

A Press Association Weather Centre spokeswoman said there would be more wet weather but the worst was over.

She said: "It will be drier over the weekend and over the next week, but much colder. Friday will still be wet, though not as bad as Thursday."

She said December's rainfall in England and Wales had been 27 per cent above average. Next week, there was 60 per cent chance of snow.

In the South, hopes were high that hundreds of homes had escaped more flooding, although many roads were closed and large sections of countryside were under water.

Commuters were still facing disruption with the Brighton to London Victoria line closed.

A train derailed on the line on Wednesday, following a landslide caused by a sodden embankment. There were no injuries.