Julie Harper had only been living in York for a few months when her home was flooded. In a heart-felt letter to the Evening Press and thisisyork, she thanks the city for the help she received

I felt I had to write to express the huge gratitude I feel to a large number of people who have worked tirelessly on my behalf.

Six months ago, I was living and working in Hertfordshire. A new job and house came in quick succession, and I found myself in a beautiful terraced "cottage"; a mere ten minutes stroll from the city centre. I worked hard to make the house my own ... new carpet, furniture, wall decoration etc, and by the beginning of October felt happy, contented and settled.

Then came the shock. River Street stood in the way of the burgeoning River Ouse. A week ago last Friday is lodged firmly in my mind as the night I arrived home from work to find army, police and council workers busy evacuating my street. I couldn't stop crying; on my own in a "new" city, I had no network of friends and family to rely on ... but soon I began to realise what a truly caring city this is.

A policeman took time from directing operations to lend me his car and mobile phone to collect my mind and phone work colleagues. Council staff carefully coaxed me into a dinghy to grab overnight belongings and constantly reassured me as to both mine and the house's safety. Army volunteers waited patiently as I tried contacting work colleagues from the Slip Inn, whose landlady happily threw open her doors and offered, first the public then her mobile phone to contact someone locally.

Work colleagues and an old friend in one area of York unaffected by the traumas threw open the doors to their homes; offering food, bed and reassurance.

In the week away, local radio kept my hosts and I completely up-to-date with developments, and local newspapers showed dogged determination to write about and photograph all local areas suffering in the floods.

Work colleagues, parents and children (I'm a teacher) encouraged, comforted, brought wine, chocolates and "We're so sorry" cards and generally kept my spirits up.

When I finally plucked up courage to return, council officials soon followed, arranging for immediate gas and electric checks and furniture disposal (including my carpet, only laid some three weeks previously!) Insurance company arranged a clean-up team and an assessor to "move-in", and throughout people were kind, sympathetic and very caring. I could go on and on ... Browns have put furniture on order into long-term storage and Yves Rochers on hearing (from my host) of my plight, supplied a make-up bag with numerous sample products to cheer me up.

I've never written to a newspaper before but couldn't think of a better way to say 'York, you're wonderful!'

I'm now in the process of cleaning up and fully intend to stay on as long as possible while remedial work is carried out.

A final huge thank you to my new neighbours who worked tirelessly to help me move furniture and belongings upstairs.

I'm eternally grateful!