People in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, are being urged to turn off their Christmas lights to help prevent further power cuts after recent flooding.

Mark Williamson, operations director for Electricity North West, says: "We are asking our customers in Rochdale to reduce their energy use to prevent further power outages while our engineers repair the damage.

"Simple things like turning off your Christmas lights or not using your washing machine or dishwasher for a while would make a huge difference."

Yorkshire Water's just issued this reassurance to its customers worried that flooding in the north of England may affect drinking water.

A landslip has hit the major railway route between Manchester, Preston and Blackpool with services being diverted via Wigan.

Mark Cowley, a parish councillor in the village of Croston in Lancashire, where the River Yarrow burst its banks, says the flooding there is "as bad as it's been".

"People who've been in the village don't know it's ever been this bad and that goes all the way back quite a long time. 

"Houses are just under feet of water. One of my neighbours is under 5ft of water still and until the fire brigade has evacuated all the water then her water's not going to start going down and she can't even start to see how much the devastation is."

Rob Dalby is stuck in his home in York and sent these pictures of the scene before it got dark.

Image source, Rob Dalby

Image source, Rob Dalby

He says: "I'm stuck in my first-floor apartment on the bank of the River Foss. 

"I usually only see the water from one side of the flat. Now it is all I can see!

"We're all happy though and keeping a stiff upper lip. How English we all are in times of crisis! Best have another cup of tea."

People in Calderdale, West Yorkshire are being warned to keep away from bridges as several are unstable after flooding in the Calder Valley.

Phil Bodmer
Journalist, BBC Look North

City of York Council is now requesting 5,000 additional sandbags as river levels continue to rise in the city.

Hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes here, with water levels having reached record levels. 

Six severe flood warnings, meaning there's a danger to life, remain in place in York, external.

BBC Look North's Lara Rostron has been in York, reporting from the city which has been hit by extensive flooding. 

This is her most recent update from Monkgate in the centre of the city.  

Due to extensive flooding over parts of the north of England, Northern Rail is advising people not to travel in Cumbria, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire, external.

They say people should only travel in these areas if the journey is "absolutely necessary".

Meanwhile, First TransPennine Express is advising passengers not to travel between Preston and Scotland, Barrow-in-Furness and Windermere.

Thanks to Maddie Gardziel for sending us these pictures of the situation in Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd this afternoon.

Both towns are among several in the Calder Valley which have been hit by serious flooding following heavy rain over Christmas.

Image source, Maddie Gardziel

Image source, Maddie Gardziel

He may be orbiting Earth at many thousands of miles and hour, but British astronaut Tim Peake has taken a few moments to express his sympathies for those hit by flooding down at ground level.

Jon Trickett, the Labour MP for Hemsworth, says he's shocked by the extent of the flooding which has hit northern England.

Speaking on the BBC News Channel, Mr Trickett said: "It is astonishing to drive in from my home through the centre of Leeds and see the amount of flooding. I've lived in West Yorkshire all my life, I've never seen anything quite like it.

"We are living in the fifth richest country in the world and I refuse to accept the idea that we're unable to protect so many people from these kind of events."

The extent of the flooding which has hit the centre of York is revealed by these shots taken a little earlier from a helicopter flying above the city.

Up to 3,500 properties are at risk and between 300 and 400 people are being evacuated.

Erica Hammill, who runs Hotel 53 with her husband Michael in the Piccadilly area of York, says hotel guests had to climb out of ground floor windows to escape the flooding.

Image source, PA

She says: "It's a nightmare. There are no doors at the back for them to get out. We are getting supplies, sand bags, pumps to mop up the flood damage. 

"But water is coming back in. We've lost electrics. The phone lines and the computer system are down too."

Harry Gration
Presenter, BBC Look North

A dog's been rescued by the emergency services dealing with flooding in York at the moment.

It's just one of of many animals that have been saved by emergency crews. Great work by the rescue services.

Trevor Gibbons
BBC Local Live

Northern Powergrid, external says it's closely monitoring the River Ouse as flood waters in York are still rising and are not expected to reach their peak until Monday.

The company says it has "response plans in place should the defences be breached at substation sites".

Northern Powergrid’s Twitter (@northpowergrid) and Facebook pages are also providing regular updates.

These are some of the latest scenes from Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, where members of the Van der Berg family have been rescued from their flooded home on Wharfe Bank Terrace.

Riley, Keagan and dad Ben have been stuck in their house since last night as flood waters rose.

Ben says: "The water came so quick. Before we could get everything upstairs, the water just came in and we were stuck upstairs. It's absolutely unbelievable."

Trevor Gibbons
BBC Local Live

West Yorkshire Police says it has responded to the , external"worst flooding in 70 years" and it has declared a major incident.

About 100 soldiers have been deployed in the hardest-hit areas of Calderdale and Leeds, police said.

River levels in the River Aire peaked last night and are now falling, although about 24 road closures were still in place, the force added.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police