Residents of Brantford are being allowed back into their homes – as the risk of flooding from a swollen river recedes.

Officials say an evacuation order affecting nearly 5,000 residents was lifted Thursday evening – after water levels on the Grand River went down.

The city had declared a state of emergency on Wednesday – and ordered residents in neighbourhoods near the river to leave their homes.

The city also says the Ministry of Transportation has approved the reopening of several bridges and roads that had been off limits during the flooding.