THE WORST flooding in Wharfedale for more than a decade struck local people on Boxing Day, flowing into properties, turning streets into water courses and blocking main roads along the valley.

The Environment agency issued flood warnings - warning residents living closest to the River Wharfe and other water courses in Ilkley and in the centre of Addingham to take immediate action, as the river overflowed its banks amid heavy rain early on Saturday (December 27).

Properties along the valley were flooded, water teeming downhill from Ilkley Moor washed down many residential streets, carrying debris, and Backstone Beck in Ilkley overflowed as culverts under roads in the area were blocked by debris washed downstream.

At the height of the flooding, the main A65 road was blocked between Ilkley and Burley-in-Wharfedale, Denton Bridge was closed, and the moorland road between Ilkley and Burley was also closed due to surface water.

One man who had gone to Denton Bridge to look at the raging river said people had been ignoring road closure signs at Manor Park Bends and still trying to drive through the flood.

"Some idiots were still trying to get through the water," he said.

"One went through it and then blue lighters had to follow it when it got stuck.

"Water was about to come over the toll bridge. Usually it's about six foot below it. A tree had been brought down and it was bashing up against the side. It was horrendous."

Roads in some parts of town were damaged by the flood water.

Severe flooding in the Leeds area also put trains between Ilkley and Leeds out of action on Sunday and Monday. Operator Northern Rail decided against providing replacement bus services, due to the number of roads - including the A65 Kirkstall Roads in Leeds - being flooded.

A less-urgent flood alert remained in force on the Wharfe on Tuesday (December 29).

The Environment Agency said the heavy rainfall at the weekend, which fell on saturated ground, led to unprecedented river levels in Yorkshire. Many rivers saw their highest levels ever recorded.

The latest flooding renewed concerns about blocked water courses, blocked drains and overdevelopment in the area.

Ilkley ward councillor, Martin Smith, contacted Bradford Council officers over streets 'teeming with water' while gullies were overflowing or blocked with decomposing leaves.

He said: "On Leeds Road, Backstone Beck was flooded and a local industrial estate man came from home at Skipton to clear the wood etc blocking the filter where it was again running over the road. This is his third visit this year to clear debris."

The Beck is maintained by the Environment Agency.

Cllr Smith called for culverts in Ilkley to be cleared of debris and silt and, gullies cleaned, with decomposing leaves swept up.

Shipley MP Philip Davies, whose constituency covers the more severely affected Shipley area, as well as Burley and Menston, got the issue of flooding in Shipley raised at a top level emergency COBRA meeting in London, after Mr Davies spoke to Floods Minister Rory Stewart.

Mr Davies called Mr Stewart directly to ask for more help for the many people in his constituency who have been flooded and for better defences to ensure that this does not happen again.

Mr Davies said "It is absolutely heartbreaking for so many people to face this terrible situation - particularly at Christmas - and I wanted to ensure that my constituents are getting the best possible assistance.

"I am very grateful to the Minister for making sure the needs of the Shipley constituency were escalated to the highest level. Given that such a massive area of the North of England has been affected by unprecedented floods I appreciate that all resources are stretched thinly, but I wanted to make sure everything possible was being done to help my constituents".

Mr Stewart also confirmed to Mr Davies that Bradford Council would be fully reimbursed for the costs incurred as a result of the flooding - in the same way that Cumbria was when they were the first affected.