POLICE have closed roads and some residents are believed to have been evacuated from their homes as the River Wharfe overflowed on Sunday (November 15).

Denton Road in Ilkley remained closed on Sunday afternoon and police took the step of cordoning off New Brook Street in Ilkley on Sunday afternoon, preventing vehicles and pedestrians crossing to the north side of the river.

The A658 Pool Road is closed between Smiths Garden Centre, Otley and the Shell Garage, Pool-in-Wharfedale.

In Otley, Billams Hill/Newall Carr Road were closed from Weston Lane to Otley Police Station.

Police warned pedestrians not to cross Otley Bridge, as the northern side of the bridge  has been engulfed by 3ft to 4ft of water

One Ilkley resident, crossing the town’s New Bridge from the north side of the river, said she believed houses closest to the River Wharfe had been evacuated as water covered East Holmes Field, West Holmes Field and Denton Road.

Other residents are said to have put sandbags out around their homes.

An Ilkley Rugby Club match is said to have been cancelled on Sunday morning.

Many people gathered on New Brook Street and on the northern banks of the Wharfe at Ilkley to see the swollen river.

West Yorkshire Police has warned anyone venturing out on Sunday evening to take care, cautioning members of the public that a lot of road closures are not guarded by offiders, and have been coned off and signed.

Police say  several drivers have had to abandon cars while attempting to drive through flood water.

The flooding comes after several days of high winds and heavy rain.

The Environment Agency has also issued Flood Warnings for Castley Lane, Castley, Ilkley Road, Addingham, andf Bolton Bridge, Bolton Abbey.

The Agency says it expects river levels to fall on Sunday afternoon.