A FLOOD alert has been issued for the River Spen and Batley Beck catchments.

The Environment Agency says river levels have risen as a result of the heavy rainfall this morning.

Consequently, flooding of roads and low-lying land is possible between 8.30 today and 9am tomorrow.

Areas most at risk are low-lying areas. Flooding of properties is not forecast at this point.

Further rainfall is forecast over the next 24 hours and the agency expects river levels to remain high until 9am on Friday.

The agency is closely monitoring the situation and its incident room is open.

The public are asked to avoid using low-lying footpaths near local watercourses.