A month after the River Derwent burst its banks, about £24,000 has now been raised by the Ryedale Flood Response appeal, with help coming in from overseas.

Members of a branch of the Lions Club in the US have donated $10,000 to help in the drive to get forced out householders back on their feet.

The appeal is now ready to make interim payments of £50 to those whose homes were damaged.

People who are still living away from their flood-damaged homes are being urged to telephone Mike Skehan, head of revenue services at Ryedale District Council, on 01653 600666 to pass on details of where they can be contacted.

The distribution of money is being co-ordinated by Dale Meegan, chief officer at Ryedale Council for Voluntary Action.

She said the pay-out had taken a little longer than expected to organise because of difficulties in contacting people who had left their homes.

If readers wish to support the Ryedale Flood Response Appeal, they can make donations to one of four organisations. They are:

Churches Together Flood Response - cash or cheques can be given to any minister of any denomination within Ryedale;

Malton & Norton Rotary Club Flood Response - donations can be paid via the National Westminster Bank, Malton, or posted to Brian Pape, White Owls, West Knapton, Malton, YO17 6RL;

Malton, Norton & District Lions Flood Response - c/o Ryedale District Council, Ryedale House, Malton, YO17 0HH, or;

Soroptimist International, Malton and Norton Flood Response - also c/o Ryedale District Council.

Hunt members help victims

Members of a North Yorkshire hunt ended their season in charitable mode over the Easter weekend by handing over a cheque to help flood victims.

Middleton Hunt master Frank Houghton-Brown hands over the cheque to the Rev Michael Sinclair

Riders paused at Moor Cottage, Buttercrambe, near Stamford Bridge, on Saturday, while hunt master Frank Houghton-Brown presented a cheque for £332 to the Rev Michael Sinclair.

The priest-in-charge of Settrington with North Grimston; Birdsall with Langton; Burythorpe; Acklam; and Leaving with Westow accepted the cheque on behalf of the Diocese of York Social Care Fund.

Mr Houghton-Brown said the money was destined for the flood appeal set up by Churches Together - one of four local organisation collecting for Ryedale Flood Response.

The money represents the proceeds from the raffle held at the hunt's end-of-season dinner at Richardson's Indoor Bowls & Leisure Centre, Bowling Lane, Norton.

A sponsored ride and walk in aid of the Middleton Hunt and the physiotherapy unit at Malton Hospital also took place on Saturday.

Those taking part in the 15-mile ride and seven-mile walk over the Wolds set off during the morning from Scampston Mill Farm at Wintringham, near Malton.

Two similar fundraising rides and walks have been held previously at Birdsall. This year's event took in mostly private land on the Wintringham Estate, as well as bridlepaths and footpaths.

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