A flood alert has been issued for a river running through Brighouse after the wettest day for weeks.

The Environment Agency put communities along the River Calder and its tributaries from Todmorden to Brighouse on alert.

It came after the Huddersfield and Calderdale area was drenched with 37mm of rain or almost 1½ inches in less than 24 hours - more than half the normal monthly rainfall.

But the rain is expected to disappear completely tonight and there are several days of warm and dry weather ahead.

The Agency said: “Rivers are starting to respond to this morning’s rainfall.

“We expect the river to remain high and possibly rise further, though at this stage no property flooding is forecast.

“Low lying land and roads may be affected. We are constantly monitoring river levels and have staff in the area to relay information.”

Further updates are expected this evening.

In 2012 the river reached a record high of 3.2m and caused homes and businesses along its banks to flood when a month’s worth of rain fell in 24 hours.

Last night councillors in Calderdale received an update about steps taken to prevent flooding, with £3m spent on flood alleviation work so far.

In Huddersfield weatherman Paul Stevens recorded 37mm of rain between 9pm on Thursday and 2.30pm today.

That follows a very dry start to August with only 8mm of rain.

Workers removing a fallen tree on Meltham Road, Lockwood, Huddersfield.

“It has been quite a downpour and that’s well above half of the normal monthly rainfall of 60mm.

“But is is moving away and although we may get a little drizzle into the evening, it will dry up for the weekend.

“Saturday and Sunday look mostly dry with some sunshine and as we head intro next week the only blot is on Tuesday when it could be cloudy with a shower.

“Other than that, the week looks set to be mainly dry with some warm, or very warm, sunshine”

Motorists faced delays after part of a tree fell into a busy road in the downpour.

Police were sent to the scene on Meltham Road, near to the Lockwood viaduct, after the tree blocked one lane of the main road.

West Yorkshire Police’s Rural officers said traffic was at a standstill because of the tree.

Within an hour the tree and debris had been cleared from the site.