A number of communities ac-ross the north of England near Cumbria were yesterday urged to brace themselves as heavy rain continues.

More than 1,500 properties were thought to be at risk in Egremont and Kendal, on the fringes of the Lake District, and emergency refuge centres were set up by local councils in both towns.

A number of properties were flooded overnight yesterday as the Environment Agency warned of scores of other flood threats across the north of England, with reports of localised flooding in North and West Yorkshire as well as in Northumberland.

Police in several counties have warned of terrible driving conditions, with some roads flooded.

The swollen River Kent in Kendal, Cumbria yesterday. Photo: Peter Thornton/PA Wire

In Stockton-on-Tees, three people were taken to hospital for checks after a taxi overturned in what police described as “awful driving conditions”.

In Cumbria, despite the lifting of the severe flood warnings, police advised motorists to drive “only if absolutely necessary” after torrential rain left roads flooded and hundreds of people fearing their homes may be inundated. Cumbria Police said a number of roads in the county were affected, including the A66 route, which links the M6 with communities on the west coast.

Chief inspector Matt Kennerley said: “Many of the county’s roads, including the A66 at Threlkeld, have minor road surface flooding. “Our advice is to drive only if necessary today as it is expected, that with further deteriorating weather conditions, more roads will be affected with an increasing severity.”

The Environment Agency is closely watching the River Wharfe after it burst its banks at various locations around Ilkley, Otley and Pool. The A65 in the Settle area of North Yorkshire was also badly affected by localised floods and North Yorkshire Police said they were attending reports of a fallen tree blocking a road in the Ingleton area.

Risk remains highest for Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire

Further north, many communities have been preparing for possible flooding with people in Corbridge, in Northumberland, taking to social media to report the River Tyne at an extremely high level.

The Environment Agency said there were still 75 flood warnings in force across England and Wales, along with 91 flood alerts.

It said further heavy rainfall was expected through the night and into today after in excess of 180mm of rain fell overnight in some places yesterday. River levels remain extremely high and are continuing to rise in places.

A spokesman said the risk remains highest for Cumbria, parts of Lancashire and western parts of North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

Neil Davies, Environment Agency flood risk duty manager, said: “Communities in northern England should remain vigilant to the risk of flooding.”