MULTIPLE flood alerts have been issued this morning which are impacting Bradford as Storm Gerrit has brought torrential rain to the city and surrounding area.

The Met Office has a yellow weather warning for heavy rain in Bradford today, which runs until 6pm currently.

It covers West Yorkshire, as well as York and North Yorkshire generally, Sheffield, Nottingham, Manchester, and the north-west of England.

The Met Office said: "Heavy rain brings the potential for disruption to travel and a risk of flooding."

There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings, as well as fast flowing or deep floodwater, according to the UK's national weather service.

The Met Office said spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures, and where flooding occurs, there is a chance of delays or cancellations to train and bus services.

Several flood alerts have now been issued by the Government for rivers with catchments in and around Bradford.

One of those is the lower Calder, with river levels between Mirfield and Methley rising in response to this morning's heavy rainfall.

The Government's flood alerts and warnings service said: "This rainfall is forecast to continue throughout the morning with further showers forecast over the coming days."

River levels are expected to peak at 1.30pm at Mirfield Ledgard Bridge and the areas most at risk are the River Calder from Brighouse to Castleford, including Chickenley Beck, Spring Mill Beck, and Waindike. 

Water levels are also forecast to rise on the Upper River Calder this morning as a result of persistent heavy rainfall overnight and this morning.

The Government's website said: "This rainfall is forecast to continue through the morning with further showers forecast over the coming days."

River levels were expected to peak at around 9am at Walsden, with this moving down the Upper Calder catchment through the morning.

Flooding is forecast to affect locations near River Calder and its tributaries from Todmorden to Brighouse, with low lying land expected to be most affected.

It is a similar picture across the River Spen and Batley Beck catchment area, with river levels expected to have peaked at around 9.30am at Cleckheaton Thornton Street.

There is an alert in place for the Upper River Wharfe, with levels expected to rise today.

Flooding is possible on low-lying, agricultural land and possibly minor roads on the valley floor, including Ilkley, Bolton Abbey, and Buckden.

Finally, river levels are forecast to rise on the Upper River Aire throughout the day, with its peak expected from early afternoon and remaining high overnight and into tomorrow.

Areas most likely to be at risk include locations near the River Aire from Gargrave to Stockbridge, with low-lying land expected to be most affected.

Washlands between Gargrave and Keighley are expected to fill. 

All five alerts have warned people to avoid using low-lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses, as well as not attempting to walk or drive through floodwater.