Parish councillors near Selby said today they would continue to pay for private security to protect their flood-hit community from looters "for as long as it was needed."

It could be up to six months before some residents at Barlby are able to move back into their flooded homes - but parish councillor Stephanie Duckett said they were determined they would not suffer the added misery of looting and vandalism.

Selby-based Mayfair Security is now patrolling more than 200 evacuated homes on the Wainhomes estate, Riverside Close and Barlby Crescent.

Using cars with CCTV cameras on board, the company is making random patrols every day.

The parish council agreed to pay an initial £300 for two months of patrols, which started last week, following reports of stealing from skips.

Police also confirmed that thieves had taken children's bikes, a freezer and its contents, and electrical tools after breaking into a shed outside an empty house in Cherry Tree Court, Barlby.

Coun Duckett said: "Residents have been patrolling the area themselves up to midnight after reports of strangers seen wandering around.

"Some people won't be back in their homes for months, and we will continue to fund the private security for as long as it is needed."

Wendy Taylor will shortly be moving into a static caravan so her flood-hit home in Barlby Crescent can be repaired.

She said: "It's a nice gesture by the parish council which helps to put people's minds at rest."

Paul Millar, who is living upstairs with his wife, Ellen, in their home in Maple Tree Avenue on the Wainhomes estate, said: "We feel a lot happier with these patrols.

"We are the only people back in at present, and the area could be seen as easy pickings for looters."

John Cook, area manager for Mayfair Security, said they were making frequent patrols, and their control room was linked directly to the police.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Barlow said: "We can't protect properties night after night. It's too big a job and the force has a limited amount of resources. The security patrols fill a gap that we cannot fill."