THE Environment Agency has issued "All clear" signals for most of the upper reaches of Yorkshire Dales rivers - although there is still an ominous build-up as many of these rivers join the Ouse near York.

It means that that the imminent danger of serious flooding has passed on the Wharfe downstream from Addingham to Harewood, the Nidd at Knaresborough, the Ure at Masham, the beck at Broughton Business Park, near Skipton, and most of the upper length of the Ure in Wensleydale.

Most of the flood waters from this rivers end up in the Ouse near York, along with the River Foss which joins the Ouse in the centre of York and was amajor threat to the city until new flood barriers were installed in 1989.

These barriers, backed by powerful pumps, have been working flat out for the past week, pumping out a tonne of water every second. But agency workers are warning that the situation in York will reach critical height today (Wednesday, January 23), with 560 properties at risk on the banks of the Foss.