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A total of 20 flood warnings - meaning immediate action should be taken as flooding is expected - are in place in Yorkshire as emergency services prepare for possible widespread flooding caused by Storm Christoph.

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There are also 47 flood alerts - meaning "flooding is possible, be prepared" - in place on the county's rivers.

The Environment Agency has warned of a "volatile situation" as heavy rain combines with melting snow, while police in South Yorkshire yesterday declared a "major incident" ahead of expected flooding.

An amber "be prepared" Met Office rain warning remains in place for Yorkshire until 12:00 on Thursday.

The Met Office said there was a "danger to life" due to fast-flowing or deep floodwater, and told some communities they might be "cut off" by flooded roads.

A government spokesperson said it had provided additional advice to local agencies to help them manage any evacuations and shelter provision in a Covid-secure way.

Ahead of expected flooding due to Storm Christoph, Yorkshire Water has issued guidance on who to report different types of flooded drains to.

Yorkshire WaterCopyright: Yorkshire Water

Writing on social media, the company said: "With rainfall set to continue today and flood alerts out in Yorkshire, we wanted to ask do you know who to report flooding to?

"Solid covers and unblocked road gullies: Please report this to us. Blocked road gullies with leaves and debris: Contact your local council."

A total of 20 flood warnings - meaning immediate action should be taken as flooding is expected - are in place in Yorkshire.

There are also 44 flood alerts - meaning "flooding is possible, be prepared" - in place on the county's rivers.

Today will be mild day with outbreaks of rain and brisk winds.

Staying unsettled tonight with heavy rain pushing in, heightening the risk of flooding.

An amber "be prepared" rain warning has been issued for Yorkshire as Storm Christoph approaches:

BBCCopyright: BBC

A total of 20 flood warnings- meaning immediate action should be taken as flooding is expected - are in place in Yorkshire as emergency services prepare for widespread flooding caused by Storm Christoph.

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

There are also 44 flood alerts - meaning "flooding is possible, be prepared" - in place on the county's rivers.

The Environment Agency has warned of a "volatile situation" as heavy rain combines with melting snow, while police in South Yorkshire declared a major incident.

An amber "be prepared" rain warning is in place for the county until 12:00 on Thursday.

A government spokesperson said it had provided additional advice to local agencies to help them manage any evacuations and shelter provision in a Covid-secure way.

The Met Office said there was a "danger to life" due to fast-flowing or deep floodwater, and told some communities they might be "cut off" by flooded roads.

Ros Jones, mayor of Doncaster, said key risk areas had been inspected over the past 36 hours, with the delivery of sandbags continuing today.

Highways England advised drivers to take extra care on motorways and major A roads, while the RAC breakdown service said motorists should only drive if absolutely necessary.

A total of 26 flood alerts are now in place on rivers across North, South, East and West Yorkshire.

Ben Birchall/PA WireCopyright: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

A flood alert means "flooding is possible, be prepared".

Meanwhile, four flood warnings - meaning immediate action should be taken as flooding is expected - are in place for parts of the rivers Derwent, Seven and Ouse.

The Met Office has issued an amber "be prepared" weather warning for rain in Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West, East Midlands and the east of England over the next two days.

A "major incident" has been declared in South Yorkshire in response to the forecast rainfall.

Ros Jones, mayor of Doncaster, said: "I do not want people to panic, but flooding is possible so please be prepared."

More than half of young people in Yorkshire said their mental health had got worse during the Covid-19 pandemic, a report has found.

Science Photo LibraryCopyright: Science Photo Library

A survey by The Prince's Trust said 56% of 16 to 25-year-olds questioned reported a mental decline.

Half said they felt anxious, with 18% saying they were "unable to cope with life", the survey showed.

Meanwhile, two-thirds also reported feeling like they were "missing out on being young" due to lockdown restrictions.

Clare Crabb, from the trust, said the pandemic had taken a "devastating toll on young people's mental health".

"They face a disrupted education, a shrinking jobs market and isolation from their friends and loved ones, and as a result, too many are losing all hope for the future," she said.

The report also found that one in five young people in Yorkshire did not feel confident about their future work prospects.

More than half, 53%, said getting a new job felt impossible because there was so much competition.

Mild but unsettled with outbreaks of persistent rain throughout the day and a blustery wind

Rain will continue through this evening and overnight.

An amber "be prepared" rain warning has been issued for Yorkshire as Storm Christoph approaches.

BBCCopyright: BBC

An amber rain warning has been issued for parts of northern England as Storm Christoph approaches.

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The Met Office told people in Yorkshire to expect heavy rain and potential floods.

Up to 70mm of rain is forecast to fall within 48 hours in the worst-hit areas.

The Met Office said the downpours, set to last throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, were likely to cause flooding when combined with melting snow on higher ground.

A major incident has been declared in South Yorkshire, where Doncaster Council staff have been out delivering sandbags.

Met OfficeCopyright: Met Office

The Environment Agency currently has four flood warnings in place for Yorkshire.

A flood warning means "flooding is expected and immediate action should be taken."

Warnings have been issued at:

• River Derwent at Buttercrambe Mill
• River Ouse at Naburn Lock
• River Ouse at York - riverside properties
• River Seven at Marton

Villagers have raised concerns after a large number of visitors parking there caused access problems.

Residents in Hutton near Guisborough said it meant delivery drivers had been unable to get through and they were also concerned if there was an emergency, fire engines or ambulances wouldn’t be able to pass the vehicles parked on the verges.

Cleveland PoliceCopyright: Cleveland Police

Police officers put up notices reminding people of Covid restrictions.

Cleveland Police neighbourhood Insp Neil Deluce said: “The sheer number of people we’ve seen visiting the Hutton village area recently has led to serious issues for residents and we acted swiftly to address these.

“Villagers rely on solid fuel deliveries and many are using online food and medical deliveries while the government advice remains to stay at home as much as possible."

Cleveland PoliceCopyright: Cleveland Police

A road sign in North Yorkshire urging people to only make essential journeys during the current coronavirus lockdown has been vandalised, police say.

North Yorkshire PoliceCopyright: North Yorkshire Police

Red paint was daubed over the sign, which asked drivers "is your journey essential?", at Cross Hills in Craven.

Supt Mike Walker, from North Yorkshire Police, said the vandalism was "disappointing".

He said: "While the majority of residents are sticking to the rules and staying home, someone has chosen to go out of their way to vandalise a sign placed with the intention of keeping them safe and stopping the spread of a deadly disease.

"I realise a minority of people may be feeling tired of seeing coronavirus messages or feeling frustrated about being asked to stay at home. It’s not the way any of us would choose to live our life under normal circumstances.

"However, that does not give any one the right to deface a sign which warns the wider community of the risk of catching a virus."

Louise Wallace, North Yorkshire’s director of public health, said: "It’s very disappointing to hear such acts of vandalism are happening and that a minority of people aren’t taking seriously the great danger to life that the virus poses."

Five Environment Agency flood warnings have been issued for parts of Yorkshire.

Environment AgencyCopyright: Environment Agency

A flood warning means "flooding is expected, take immediate action".

Warnings have been issued for the following locations:

• Low-lying properties in Upper Hull catchment
• River Derwent at Buttercrambe Mill
• River Derwent at Stamford Bridge - The Weir Caravan Park and Kexby Bridge
• River Ouse at Naburn Lock
• River Ouse at York - Riverside properties

Meanwhile an amber "be prepared" weather warning for rain in parts of Yorkshire has been issued by the Met Office.

It covers the period between 06:00 on Tuesday 19 January to 23:59 Wednesday 20 January.

The Met Office warns "heavy rainfall combined with some snowmelt across the hills is likely to lead to some flooding".

Bright spells in places today, but largely cloudy with some rain at times.

Tonight it will remain cloudy and it will turn increasingly wet throughout the evening and into the night:

BBCCopyright: BBC

Three hospital trusts in Yorkshire are among 10 across England which have reported having no spare critical care beds, latest figures show.

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The Airedale, Calderdale and Huddersfield and Harrogate and District trusts were included in a list of NHS Trusts with full critical care wards in the week to 10 January.

It comes as hospital waiting times, coronavirus admissions and patients requiring intensive care are rising.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, despite having nine critical care beds overall, said it did not normally experience full occupancy at this time of the year and the ward had both Covid and non-Covid patients.

"We are experiencing normal winter pressures across the trust, combined with an increasing number of Covid-19 patients, particularly over the last week," a spokeswoman said.

The total number of critical care beds available across all England's acute trusts is 5,503, with 4,632 in use on 10 January.

An NHS England spokeswoman said hospitals had "tried and tested plans in place" to manage pressure from increased Covid-19 and non-Covid patients, including mutual aid practices where hospitals work together to manage admissions.