AN ARMY of volunteers - from cubs to parents - has descended on a York scout headquarters to take part in a clean up operation after it was inundated by floodwaters.

The 1st Heworth Scout Group's hut in Bad Bargain Lane was flooded to a depth of about 25 centimetres - and slightly deeper in stores at the rear - when nearby Tang Hall beck burst its banks on Boxing Day night.

Canvas tents, bedding, clothing, food and cooking equipment in the stores area were all soaked, and have been placed on tables to dry them out.

Group scout leader Neil Ballantyne said an 'army of people' had come along to help clean up today. "It's fantastic, everybody has volunteered, with parents and kids helping out here," he said.

"We are hoping to get just the basic washing down done today or over the weekend but then the whole thing - who knows? The drying out of tents and equipment could take weeks, months."

He said the floodwater may have been contaminated and everything will have to be deep cleaned before they can be used. "It's not just water - it's 'black' water, it's got all sorts of nastiness in it, and we have got to make sure its disinfected because we don't want anything to happen to the kids."

The scout group has about 18 Beavers, 30 Cubs, 20 Scouts and 13 Explorers, and the building is also used by the Volsung Vikings, a re-enactment group, and by the Ebor Morris dancing group.