RYEDALE MP Kevin Hollinrake has said that flooding on the road at Sherburn should "soon be a thing of the past".

Mr Hollinrake has said he has been assured by Highways England that work on new gullies and drains alongside the A64 from Sherburn to Ganton will start later this year and be completed by March 2019.

At a meeting with the MP, Highways England said it is currently carrying out a technical survey to find out exactly what needs to be done before starting the work.

Mr Hollinrake said: “This is good to hear because residents are frustrated that rain can quickly cause the drains to backup and sometimes flood the whole road, particularly at the crossroads in the village.

“The post office has also been badly affected when, on the very worst occasions, water gets in every time a vehicle drives through the water.

“Engineers also told me that the second phase of the drain and gully improvements from Ganton to Saxton will be completed by 2021.”

In the wider Ryedale and North Yorkshire area, there have been predictions this week of worsening flooding events due to ongoing man-made climate breakdown.

The Environment Agency warned on Friday that “intense bouts of flooding are set to become more frequent in Yorkshire”.

The warning follows a pattern of severe flooding over the past 10 years linked to an increase in extreme weather events as the country’s climate changes.

Met Office records show that since 1910 there have been 17 record-breaking rainfall months or seasons – with nine of them since 2000.

On Friday, the Environment Agency launched its Flood Action Campaign, a social media and online campaign urging people - particularly young people - to check their flood risk at gov.uk and also to sign up for free flood warnings.

Research shows that 18 to 34-year-olds are least likely to perceive flood risk to their area, know how to protect their homes or where to go for information.

Sir James Bevan, chief executive of the Environment Agency, said: “Climate change is likely to mean more frequent and intense flooding.

“Floods destroy – lives, livelihoods, and property.

“Our flood defences reduce the risk of flooding, and our flood warnings help keep communities safe when it threatens.

“But we can never entirely eliminate the risk of flooding.

“Checking your flood risk is the first step to protecting yourself, your loved ones and your home.”