Campaigner Di Keal finally moved back into her flood-damaged home today.

Mrs Keal and her family will tonight spend their first night in St Nicholas Street, Norton, since they abandoned their home last October.

"I am pleased to be back but we're all still worried about spending another winter here in case it floods again," said Mrs Keal, who is fighting for flood defences for Malton and Norton. "Officials from the Environment Agency (EA) have assured us that even if it does start pouring with rain around November, work will still continue so that is reassuring. It has been a difficult seven months because we've had to move twice which has been disruptive for the children."

Once the water had receded Di and her husband, Howard, became heavily involved in the Evening Press campaign to Save Ryedale From Flooding.

She helped promote our campaign - which resulted in the EA speeding up plans to build flood defences - and is a member of the Malton and Norton Flood Liaison Group, set up by the EA as a residents' forum. It has been a struggle, but I'm glad something is finally going to be done," she added.

"I just wish they had done something after we were flooded out in 1999 - then we wouldn't have had to go through it all twice.

"All the building work at our house is complete but we'll have to live without carpets and proper furniture for now. It'll be a while before everything is back in order."

Updated: 10:48 Thursday, May 24, 2001