Call for flood repair grants

John Greenway, Tory MP for Ryedale, and Anne McIntosh, who represents the Vale of York, offered their sympathies to people whose homes and businesses were ruined in the floods.

They praised North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service and local authorities for responding promptly to the crisis, sparked when one month's worth of rain fell in a few hours.

Mr Greenway's motion said: "The ferocity of the flood has caused widespread damage to local roads and bridges which are vital to local communities and which will have to be rebuilt at significant cost."

It called on the Government to "provide (North Yorkshire County Council) with the necessary financial support to rebuild road links as a matter of urgency". It also urged ministers to "refund local authorities the significant cost of the emergency".

The Duke of York, who was believed to have stayed in Helmsley during last week's Royal Ascot meeting in York, has sent a message of support to people in the area, through North Yorkshire's Chief Constable Della Cannings and Yorkshire Forward.

Meanwhile, an annual motorcyclists' charity event may have to move from the grounds of a Ryedale stately home because of flooding fears.

Bikers had a miraculous escape from fast-flowing waters on Sunday night at Duncombe Park, Helmsley, when the River Rye burst its banks.

About 60 motorcycle enthusiasts who had volunteered to help organise the Farmyard Party event to raise cash for the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) had a lucky escape.

The team had stayed behind to tidy up the site after about 8,000 motorcyclist enthusiasts met up for an event of live music, barbecues and socialising.

The campsite close to the River Rye was quickly swamped by the raging torrent and at least four stranded people were winched to safety by an RAF Sea King helicopter.

Trevor Baird, MAG public affairs director, said: "We got back the next morning and the water had receded back into the small bubbling brook that usually flows there."

He said tents, motorcycles, caravans, mobile bars and biker's possessions were littered across the site.

"It was a definite shock. I think of the 19-year history of the Farmyard Party, for ten years it's been at Duncombe Park, and the day after it's always been returned to a green field site.

"It was a chance in a million. Lord Feversham told us that the only time he could remember it flooding that much was 50 years ago."

Fire chief Tony Dyer said if the deluge had happened there a day earlier he was almost certain lives would have been lost.

Mr Baird said: "Because the event's growing so big, there's no way we can take that risk. I think the general opinion is that we won't be using the site again. We'd definitely like to stay at Duncombe Park, it's been the event's home for ten years, but I don't know whether there's another site suitable."

Duncombe Park, built in 1713, is the home of Lord and Lady Feversham. It was closed for a day after the disaster.

Liz Williams, house manager, said: "We will be going ahead with the British Road Racing Championships this weekend. We are back open for business. The only thing that is closed is the river walk, which is where the flooding happened."

She said that area had to remain closed for health and safety reasons as there was still a lot of debris left by the flood, including portable toilets and sewage, still littering the site.

"We've had no discussions with the MAG yet. We normally have a debrief at a later stage after an event like this. We have to sort out the aftermath of this first."

Lord and Lady Feversham opened up their home and its kitchen in the early hours of Monday for the bikers and their rescuers. Lady Feversham made trays of tea and coffee for people and then cooked supper for the RAF Sea King pilots at about 3am. Biker Tracey Elvin, who travelled from Ohio, USA, for the Farmyard Party, said: "It was just unbelievable. I've never met an aristocrat before and they were fantastic - so kind and hospitable."

Bosses at Yorkshire Tourist Board said today it was vital that the floods did not put off tourists from visiting the region.

Spokeswoman Lesley Wragge said large parts of areas directly affected, like Helmsley, "were open and waiting to welcome people".

Appeal fund to help flood victims

DISASTER-struck residents in Ryedale could apply for financial help from an appeal.

The North York Moors Flood Appeal was set up today to help people whose property was damaged or ruined in Sunday's freak flash floods.

The Rev Sue Greenwood, Methodist minister for Helmsley, said: "It's really to help anyone who has been affected by flooding, which was bad in Helmsley as a town, but is far worse in upper Ryedale where some people have lost everything.

"Some will not be insured and some will not be fully insured.

"This fund is to help alleviate the long-term effects of the flooding. Villages there are really only just coming to terms with life after foot and mouth. This is terrible for many of them."

She said she went with local officers and the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, Della Cannings, to visit some of the outlying villages yesterday.

Hawnby was particularly bad, she said.

"It was just like an earthquake had hit. It was totally devastated."

People who want to help, either by holding events or by making personal donations, can pay money into the North York Moors Flood Appeal account at the HSBC branch in Helmsley.

She said residents were well under way with their clean-up operations.

"People are really trying to assess what has happened to their property.

Then there's the cleaning out, the sludge and the smell it leaves behind, it gets everywhere," she said.

Rescue drama at deluge-hit kennels

A KENNEL owner has described how she saved 30 dogs from drowning while up to her neck in floodwater, and was then airlifted to hospital after suffering a suspected heart attack.

Mary Griffiths, 65, has run Rye Boarding Kennels & Cattery at Hawnby, near Helmsley, for five years.

Her kennels and home were inundated when the River Rye burst its banks on Sunday, but Mrs Griffiths and a friend, Ray Yoward, managed to save all but one of the 30 dogs. Four cats also escaped the flash flood.

"We were sitting listening to the radio, then all of a sudden the noise outside was incredible," said Mary, speaking from her hospital bed.

"I couldn't believe it. I went to the window and the water was right up it - it just came that quickly. Then a plate glass window shattered and water was everywhere."

Her first thought was for the 30 dogs that she was looking after in her three kennel blocks.

"I scaled two 8ft fences to get to the dogs. They were fastened in their kennels with leashes and couldn't get out. The best chance was letting the dogs free and letting them swim for it," she said.

The pair managed to free all of the dogs and put them on the roof. The fire brigade arrived after an hour and helped them by cutting open the kennels.

"I don't know how we did it. It was one of those things that you do on the spur of the moment. I didn't care what we'd lost, I just wanted to save the dogs because people had put them in my care. Both of us were up to our necks in water for the best part of an hour," she said.

Mary and Ray were airlifted to hospital after their ordeal - Mary with severe chest pains and Ray for treatment for his diabetes.

Residents from a neighbouring farm helped in the rescue mission, and friends have taken in Mary's own five dogs. Her home and business have been left in ruins.

The only casualty was an elderly Labrador.

Mary is anxious for the safety of two dogs on the loose in Bilsdale - a husky that is called either Ice or Frost, and a brindle Staffordshire bull terrier called Cracker. She urged anyone who saw them to return them to the kennels.

Updated: 10:15 Wednesday, June 22, 2005