Christmas cheer was dampened as continuous rainfall flooded some of the district's roads and put homeowners on high alert.

But the residents on Castley Lane, near Pool-in-Wharfedale, are breathing a sigh of relief as the flood barrier fitted in December has fought off its first threatened flood.

The £1million defence project at Castley Lane was completed in December and despite a flood warning issued this week it worked.

The 12 homes on Castley Lane have been continually ravaged by flood water for many years and finally after a two year campaign a flood barrier has been fitted.

Resident Gavin Barlow, said: "It was the first time it had been tested.

"If the water had got any higher I would have moved the furniture upstairs just in case, but touch wood it has worked.

"It has been a massive relief knowing that there is a barrier to protect the house. It has been a nightmare in the past.

"The barrier is ten yards away from the end of the garden. It is six feet high but it doesn't detract, it looks quite normal as it is just a mound of earth, but it will be grassed over soon."

The barrier has successfully protected property in the hamlet from the fast rising River Wharfe, the homes were last hit in August 2002.

At the moment the embankment is merely an earth mound, but it will eventually be grassed over.

The embankment, funded and designed by the Environment Agency, is more than a mile long and at its highest will stand at around 5ft.

It stretches from the A658 Harrogate Road, behind houses in Castley Lane and then curve to the north. The Moor roads and Otley Chevin were flooded on Monday as many commuters returned to work after the Christmas break.

Driving conditions were dangerous as moorland routes were restricted to one lane as they became submerged by flood water.

The River Wharfe was put on Flood Watch, the second stage of flood alert, and warned of localised flooding.