What came after the flash floods

Scores of residents in the Helmsley, Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe and Hawnby areas are rebuilding their properties while waiting for insurance pay-outs, but the scars of the 40ml of rain falling within six hours on Sunday, June 19, remain.

The physical devastation - which was last month estimated at £15 million by North York Moors Park Authority - is immediately apparent on entering the villages. Masses of silt and rubbish from the river and streams which burst their banks are still piled up in gardens and yards.

Many buildings remain caked in mud, fences and areas of vegetation are missing and the insides of shops and homes remain in a gutted state

While not so visible, the human scars of the natural disaster - which involved RAF helicopters winching people to safety, a resident airlifted to hospital after suffering heart problems, businesses wrecked and beloved pets swept away never to be seen again - will take longer to heal. Karen Grattage reports.

:: 'The price is incalculable'

KENNEL owners Mary Griffiths and Ray Yoward are facing major upheaval in their lives.

Concerns remain over Mary's health, after she was airlifted to hospital during the disaster suffering heart problems.

Their home, which is next to a bridge washed away by the force of the torrents, will have to be completely rebuilt.

She said: "It is a wooden house, built in 1905, and it is only because it is so well made that it hasn't fallen down.

"We've been given two options - to have the place pulled down and rebuilt here or to have it moved further up the hill away from the stream.

"We want to move the whole premises further up hill but we've been told it will take nine months to do that. And the insurance company for the kennels will only pay for loss of business for ten weeks.

"That time is nearly up and they haven't even been out to clear the mud out of the kennel buildings.

"The place was so disgusting and starting to attract rats that we just decided to get on with it ourselves.

"Our family and friends have come from all over to help us clear the place up - and it was hard back-breaking work."

Mary and Ray, who are business partners, had just finished feeding the 42 dogs when the heavens opened and water began to seep from the river across the forecourt of the property.

"I said to Ray, 'That water's coming up to the windows," said Mary. "We took our own dogs and cats upstairs and they were there, floating on a bed, when the firemen came to rescue them.

"Then we got out of the house.

"I had to climb out of the window and over a six foot fence to get to the kennels. I've no idea how I did it.

"We managed to rescue 14 dogs from one kennel and they were just sitting on the roof or swimming around the place. But as long as they were out it was okay.

"Then we went off to different kennels and managed to pull most of the dogs to safety. I thought I was going to die.

"The water was neck deep and I was swimming and holding on to things. I managed to get inside one of the kennels and couldn't get out so I had to shout to Ray and he smashed through a perspex roof to get to me.

"By then some men from the estate had got through to help us and the fire brigade came. But I must have collapsed because I was airlifted to hospital and had to stay in for eight days with heart problems.

"It was heartbreaking to come back to it all, ruined and devastated.

"The house is a bungalow so the whole lot is a wreck. We have a lot of antique furniture and that is all ruined. The price of it all is incalculable.

"We are living in a caravan but at least some of the kennels are fit again so we can take in some dogs.

"It is the middle of the summer and our customers are going on holiday so we are normally full at this time.

"We really need to move the property away from the stream so that people can feel comfortable leaving their pets here, in case it happens again."

Ray, 62, said: "It has all been delays. All the clean-ups been done by ourselves and our neighbours.

"The insurance company for the kennels has been messing us about. We have been told we may get £70,0000 for the house and £40,000 for the kennels but we haven't been given firm figures.

"Another problem is that if we were farmers we would have had our walls rebuilt by the National Park authorities. But because we have a kennels and horses, rather than cows and sheep, we don't qualify.

:: Pensioner's upset at loss of treasured possessions

PENSIONER Thomas Lowey was working in his garden at Sutton-under- Whitestonecliffe, moments before a tidal wave swept up from the beck that runs by his property.

"I looked out of my window and saw the workshops sailing away - just like Noah's Ark," he said.

"I'd been inside and heard the almighty clash of the thunder and then the rains came and filled the whole garden. I've lived here 50 years and I've never seen anything like it in my life before.

"Then the flood waters started to fill the house and I just picked things up and tried to salvage what I could and take it upstairs. A gush of water came up through the toilet and the whole place filled with sewage so I had to get upstairs until it started to die down.

"My whole garden was ruined and there are just heaps of silt and mud from the bottom of the beck all piled up in it."

A car washed downstream by the flood also landed in Mr Lowey's garden as the raging waters surged through.

The 83-year-old said: "My gates were hauled from their posts by the force of the water and swept away," said the pensioner.

"A neighbour of mine found them a few weeks later lying in a field two miles away. My workshops were never found.

"I lost six models and three dolls houses, which are gifts that I make all year and sell in the run-up to Christmas.

"But the most upsetting part is losing all my tools which I have not been able to find.

"The flood water reached ten feet in the house and all my furniture, floors and walls are ruined.

"The insurance company is organising the building work and just sent contractors in to do it.

"But the furniture is a different kettle of fish - they are talking about giving me vouchers for a department store and just letting me go and buy everything. I think the total cost will come to something like £20,000 because the whole bathroom and kitchen has to be replaced on top of everything else.

"I think the flood had something to do with the new reservoir they built nearby, but the water-board insisted there was no run-off from there.

"But it was definitely a freak occurrence and I hope it won't happen again."

:: Butcher's business back from the brink

BRIAN THOMPSON has been forced to move into a caravan while his home is repaired.

The 59-year-old butcher from Helmsley says the damage caused to his business and house has cost in excess of £150,0000 and his insurance company will only pay a part of it.

He said: "We are back in action, as far as the business is concerned, but we are still keeping meat in three different stores and waiting for one refrigeration unit which will not be here until the Bank Holiday.

"We spent a whole week clearing up and were open again after a week. To me it was most important to get the business up and running.

"We could have taken disruption money and closed for months, but who is to say the customers would be here when we came back?

"It was hard, but once the shop was open and we had new equipment I could start thinking about my house next door."

Brian lives alone at the property and has been staying in a caravan in his back yard while builders take over the lower floor.

"I can still get upstairs to my bedroom," he said. "But I have to use a ladder because the stairs were all rotten and had to be pulled down. But there is no bathroom so I have a shower in the caravan.

"The whole of the downstairs was wrecked - the floors have been pulled up and we have knocked down walls and had the rest re-plastered.

"All new flooring is being put down and I'm having new kitchen units and also paying for a new bathroom at the same time. I'm hoping I can move back in September.

"I'm not worried about the prospect of more floods. The last time this happened was 1768 so I don't think I will be around for the next one.

"You have to remain positive and to just get on with things.

"There were six or seven other properties affected in Helmsley and I think most people have moved out while work takes place. They are mainly estate properties so it is being done for them."

Builder Brian Metcalfe, 33, who is undertaking the reconstruction work, said: "There is enough work here and throughout the area to keep me busy for a year.

"It was heartbreaking to see it all under floodwater. I'm also a fireman and cut short my holiday to help with the clean-up. Everyone just pitched in and worked longer hours.

"We are slowly getting there and it will be nice to see things back to normal."

Updated: 10:42 Thursday, August 25, 2005