Angry motorist Tanya O'Neil says is still waiting for her car to be repaired - six weeks after it was damaged in the floods.

Now she is planning to complain to trading standards about her insurance company, UK giant Direct Line, accusing it of dragging its feet over getting the repairs done.

"I am at my wits' end," said Mrs O'Neil, of Rillington, near Malton. "I have tried getting them to do the work but they have dragged their feet."

On October 30, just as the flood waters were creeping up in Ryedale, she drove her Peugeot car through a deep puddle and stalled the engine.

"I was driving along the Helmsley to Stokesley road and went through some deep water and the car broke down - it could have happened to anyone," she said.

"Direct Line took the car away the next day and I was told it would be taken to the firm's repair centre in Leeds.

"I hired a car to get me around and I was quite happy; when I phoned a week or so later to check if they had fixed my car I was told they were just finishing it off.

"But I phoned the following day and was told they had not even started work on the car.

"It is six weeks now and it's costing me £165 a week for the hire car."

Mrs O'Neil was then told Direct Line was having trouble finding the right parts in the UK and would have to import them from France.

"I have lodged an official complaint with the firm, but they have not replied - I feel like they are ignoring me.

"As soon as I have my car back I intend reporting them to trading standards."

A spokeswoman for Direct Line said the delay had been caused because there was difficulty getting the right parts.

She said: "The engine had to be stripped down before we found out what was wrong.

"We couldn't get the parts so there was another delay. The car will be ready soon and we intend to compensate her for the cost of the hire car."

ryedale@ycp.co.uk