Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon visited troops in Selby and Barlby to congratulate them on their efforts in shoring up the town's flood defences.

More than 250,000 sandbags have been laid by Army troops and civilians to safeguard thousands of homes in the area.

Mr Hoon chatted to troops at the Selby Civic Centre and met soldiers from the 40 Royal Artillery in Barlby which they helped to protect from flooding with sandbags. He said: "All of us across the country have been watching with great admiration all the tremendous efforts being made by the emergency services.

"The Army have been doing a magnificent job. I wanted to come here to congratulate them myself.

"I've just come from a Cabinet meeting and the Prime Minister wanted me to pass on his thanks.

"It gives soldiers great satisfaction to help the community."

Mr Hoon also praised the efforts of the many civilians who have helped with the massive sandbagging operation.

Bombardier Nick Shipton, 27, told the minister about what was involved with the operation.

He said: "I feel a sense of achievement about how many sandbags we've laid."

Meanwhile, social services workers in North Yorkshire have won praise for their dedicated work helping more than 300 vulnerable people made homeless by the flooding.

The North Yorkshire County Council team, based in Selby, has worked around the clock to move people from 12 care and nursing homes in the Selby area to alternative accommodation.

With transport provided by St John Ambulance, all the residents were moved safely and are now settling into their new accommodation. Unfortunately their new homes are as far apart as Bridlington and Skipton.

Rosemary Archer, the county council's director of social services, said: "All the staff have worked tremendously hard to complete this very delicate operation safely and as comfortably as possible for everyone concerned. Social services staff and home owners have worked very closely to identify and move some very vulnerable people."

selby@ycp.co.uk