Storm Frank: Man arrested on suspicion of looting flood-stricken homes in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire Police were responding to residents reports of a man behaving suspiciously near evacuated homes

Evacuated homes and businesses in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire are said to be vulnerable to looters stealing electrical goods (PA)

West Yorkshire Police have arrested a man on suspicion of looting flood-stricken homes in the village of Mytholmroyd.

Police are questioning the 40-year-old after residents reported a man acting suspiciously near storm-ravaged properties on Wednesday.

They confirmed the man - believed to be from the Dewsbury area - is in custody and inquiries are continuing.

The police did not confirm whether any valuables had been taken, but they said people in white vans had been spotted acting strangely in the area and there have been reports of people stealing electrical items from outside flooded homes.

There have also been four burglaries and one attempted burglary at evacuated houses in the Huntington Road area in the north of the city, Sky News reports.

It comes as Storm Frank caused fresh chaos across the flood affected areas in Scotland and northern England.

An 18th century bridge in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire and a 150-year-old pier in Weston-super-Mare in the Bristol Channel partially collapsed after strong winds and heavy rain.