Skipton breathed a sigh of relief as a crumbling towpath

preventing swollen Eller Beck from crashing into the canal

below held firm.

An emergency dam had been constructed from bags of

stone outside the Royal Shepherd pub in the hope that a

tidal wave of water coming down the Springs extension of

the Canal, expected if the towpath wall gave way, would be

diverted back into the beck near the Coach Street bridge.

The theory was not tested and, as Friday dawned dry and

bright, engineers were pondering their next move.

Earlier around 700 homes in Skipton had been advised to

evacuate as the towpath was expected give way. Some

slept in emergency accommodation provided by the council

but most stayed at home and awaited the flood which

never happened.

The incident follows days of heavy rain which has already

caused flooding to homes in low lying parts of Skipton and

surrounding villages.

The main Skipton to Keighley road has been closed for two

days, train services cancelled and schools forced to send

children home.