THE Yorkshire Dales seem to have escaped the horrendous flooding which hit parts of the Lake District at the weekend – but there were still flood watch warnings in force early today (Monday) for the upper catchment areas of the River Aire and, further south, the River Calder.

The only “flood warning” – the second highest level of threat - in the region posted on the Enviornme4nt Agency website concerns the River Nidd in the Knaresborough area. But with heavy rain falling early today, locals were keeping an anxious eye on river levels.

Film of the floods which devastated Cockermouth and other parts of Cumbria have been flashed round the world but, although Dales rivers are swollen, so far local residents and businesses appear to have escaped major damage.

Flood “watches” – the lowest category of threat – were in place on the upper reaches of the Aire and the Calder and the “all clear” has been given to the Ouse, which regularly floods central York.