FLOOD alerts have been issued for parts of the district following heavy rain overnight which is expected to continue today.

The alerts have been issued by the Flood Information Service for the River Spen and Upper Calder in the very south of Bradford, as well as Earsby and Glusburn Becks around Glusburn and Kildwick.

People living in Woodside, Wyke, Oakenshaw, Lower Woodlands, Glusburn, Sutton-in-Craven, Cowling, Hunsworth, Cleckheaton, Liversedge, Heckmondwike, Northowram, Hipperholme, Brighouse and Bailiff Bridge could all be affected by flooding.

The warning from the service said: "Rivers have begun to react to the overnight rainfall.

"The rainfall was not as intense as forecast, however levels have risen and will remain elevated.

"Levels will peak between 8am and 11am this morning. Rain will continue to fall until midday before becoming more patchy this afternoon.

"A further band of rain will pass through the catchment this evening, seeing another rise in levels, similar to this morning. The risk of flooding to low lying land, roads and farmland remains.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and our operational staff have been out checking flood defences and clearing screens of debris.

"Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded."