A town which has been split in two by the closure of a bridge due to raging floods has "everything crossed" as it waits for the water to subside, the mayor said on Wednesday.

Steve Cobb was speaking as he watched engineers examine the bridge in the middle of Tadcaster after concerns were raised overnight.

Cobb said the river was the highest he had seen it since devastating floods hit the North Yorkshire town in 2000.

He said a number of businesses close to the river had been flooded this morning but he was taking what comfort he could from an Environment Agency estimate that the river level had gone down 1cm.

tadcaster

The town is one of many hit by recent flooding

"We're one community but we are split in two today," Cobb said.

"We are totally dependant on the bridge. It's a four or five-mile trip around without it, just to get to the other side.

"We have a doctors on one side, schools on both sides, all sorts of businesses on either side.

"We've got our fingers crossed. We've got everything crossed," Cobb said.

tadcaster bridge

The water level beneath the bridge has reached an unsafe height

North Yorkshire County Council said the bridge, which carries the A659 over the River Wharfe, has been closed as a precaution.

A spokeswoman said engineers were checking what they could but a full inspection was not possible until river levels subsided.

It is understood the closure was put in place after firefighters noticed water seeping through the structure.

Loading Slideshow...

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Water Cascades past houses in Newburn, Newcastle today after yesterdays floods left them in a state of collapse.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Water Cascades past houses in Newburn, Newcastle today after yesterdays floods left them in a state of collapse.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    An aerial view showing cars travelling along the A64 Scarborough to Leeds road as it passes over flood water from the River Ouse in York, North Yorkshire, communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left 400 homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    An aerial view showing the village of Sutton upon Derwent, East Yorkshire, surrounded by flood water from the nearby River Derwent as communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left 400 homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    The High Street, in Newburn, Newcastle, where flooding has left business owners devastated and deposited huge amounts of mud and debris.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    The High Street, in Newburn, Newcastle, where flooding has left business owners devastated and deposited huge amounts of mud and debris.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Two actors from a tourist attraction The York Dungeon, make their way into work along a flooded street in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Residents carry sandbags to riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Riverside offices were difficult to access with rising floodwater in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Floodwater rises in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Floodwaters rise in city centre streets in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos. See PA story WEATHER Wet PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Photo credit should read: Owen Humpreys/PA Wire

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos. See PA story WEATHER Wet PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Photo credit should read: Owen Humpreys/PA Wire

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    The fields surrounding Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire are flooded following countrywide storms.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Flooding in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Natalie Stroughair sandbags a taxi office in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    The bridge in the centre of Tadcaster which has been closed as flood waters from the River Wharfe continue rise.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A woman gets a piggy back ride to a Taxi Office in the centre of York, as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Office workers are evacuated from their premises in York city centre as floodwater rises in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

    A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

  • Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

    A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

  • Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

    A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Watching the water levels rise as riverside properties in York are under threat from the River Ouse which continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Natalie Stroughair sandbags a taxi office in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Council workers sandbag riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A man looks over rising flood water from the River Wharfe in the centre of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Elevated walkways carry pedestrians over floodwater in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A local riverside resident carries tea to Council workers who were placing sandbags at riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

  • Autumn weather September 25th

    A resident of Knaresborough wades through water following flooding from the River Nidd in the town.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A car makes its way through Rickerby Park in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Water surrounds the 18th green at Stoney Holme golf course in Carlisle after more heavy rain overnight.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Water covers the fairways at Stoney Holme golf course in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    Flood water covers grassy areas of Rickerby Park in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A cyclist avoids flood water on the closed A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

  • Autumn weather September 25th

    A resident of Knaresborough wades through water following flooding from the River Nidd in the town.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A van is forced to turn around after flood water closed the A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A cyclist avoids flood water on the closed A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

  • Autumn weather September 26th

    A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

  • Autumn weather September 25th

    Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

  • Autumn weather September 25th

    Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

  • Autumn weather September 25th

    A stranded motorist is helped by a member of the emergency services after being rescued from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

  • Autumn weather September 25th

    Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

  • Autumn weather September 25th

    Residents look on in Morpeth as the water levels rise near their homes, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

  • Autumn weather September 25th

    Firefighters inspect a stranded lorry on a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

  • Autumn weather September 25th

    Firefighters make their way along a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.