Everyone affected by the floods will be filled with admiration for the Hovingham diggers. Their determination to do something practical to protect their homes will strike a chord across this flood-devastated region.

A sense of helplessness overwhelmed all those whose homes were at risk in last month's disaster. The efforts to shore up flood defences with sandbags was nothing short of heroic. Ultimately, however, all householders could do was watch the waters rise, wait and hope.

The floods may have subsided but that feeling of helplessness has not. Widespread anxiety is heightened by persistent rain and further flood warnings.

In Hovingham, they have had enough of "sitting on their hands waiting for something to be done," in the words of one villager. Showing commendable community spirit, they set about building their own flood defence.

Landowner Sir Marcus Worsley was happy to co-operate. And many villagers volunteered to help dig a ditch that will divert floodwaters from one beck to another.

They will have gained a great sense of satisfaction from taking such positive action, not to mention peace of mind.

However, it is still unclear how their unilateral flood defence will affect the wider water course. The water has to go somewhere.

The Environment Agency is responsible for seeing the bigger picture. Its flood defences are designed with the entire region in mind. Unfortunately, the agency has done too little since the disaster to suggest that it has come to grips with the urgency and scale of the task ahead. That has left many victims feeling vulnerable, frustrated and angry.

The Government shares the blame. At the height of the crisis, ministers talked of pumping extra millions into flood defences. Since then, their attention appears to have been distracted on to other issues.

Into this vacuum stepped the Hovingham volunteers. If the authorities wish to discourage others from taking similar steps, they should assure the public that improved flood defence schemes are on the way soon.