A COUPLE who collected a lorry-load of aid for York flood victims from the people of Norfolk have been nominated for the York & District Medal.

Karen Henry, of Dilham, Norfolk, originally decided to send a parcel of items after watching York's Boxing day flooding disaster unfold on the news.

She then decided to go much further, putting out appeals on radio and Facebook and was overwhelmed by the response, with huge donations of clothing, shoes, bedlinen, electrical goods, cleaning products and non-perishables.

Her husband Ken, who worked as a trucker at Saxon Motors of Norfolk, was then told by his boss, John Englestone, he could use one of the company's vehicles to bring the items up to York, where they were stored in a shed before being taken out to distribution centres around the city.

Now the couple have been nominated for the medal by Mr Englestone, who said: "I think they are thoroughly deserving, as they worked so hard and literally went the extra mile to help the flood victims of York."

Meanwhile, a proud York grandmother has nominated her children and grandchildren for the medal after they all helped with the sandbagging operation to protect York properties during the floods.

Audrey Steel, of New Earswick, said her flood heroes were her daughter Jacky, a 999 call taker who went into York after a 12 hour shift to help out, her grandson Joe, an army driver who pitched in to help while home on weekend leave, her granddaughter Caitlin, a student who worked alongside the others through the night, and another granddaughter Natalie Lyon and her great-grandson Louie, four, who also helped fill sandbags.

"When they were no longer needed, they went on Facebook and found out people who needed help and delivered sandbags to their door," she said. "I'm very proud of them."

The medal scheme, organised by The Press and City of York Council, with support from York-based mutual healthcare provider, Benenden, is intended to provide recognition for the efforts of people, mostly volunteers, who stepped up to help out in the post-Christmas flooding.

Fifty commemorative medallions will be presented by the Lord Mayor of York at a special, investiture-style reception later this year.