THOUSANDS of families in York faced what seemed to be certain disaster overnight as the flood waters rose. And in the fight against nature can be found many stories of individual and collective courage.

The water fell just two inches short of breaching the city's flood defences, while further along the River Ouse, the village of Barlby, near Selby, was not so lucky.

The tidal river burst its banks just outside Selby - cutting off the A19, one of the few remaining major arteries left to motorists - and the whole of Barlby had to be evacuated.

Emergency workers and volunteers have been working round the clock reinforcing defences, evacuating homes inundated by rising water, and keeping people informed.

In York - now dubbed Sandbag City - 900 people worked through the night, as police, fire, ambulance, council workers and soldiers were joined by volunteers who pitched in humping heavy sandbags to reinforce threatened flood defences.

From the chaos came tales of neighbour helping neighbour; of volunteers going without sleep to serve food and drink to those who had fled their homes. A York removals firm offered to shift and store possessions free of charge; one stoical woman refused to budge from her home as it was flooded.

Throughout this disaster, councils at York, Ryedale and Selby have been superb, and so many people deserve our thanks, from frontline workers to emergency planners.

As we anxiously watch the monstrously swollen rivers, reports come in of flood victims facing the disaster with calm and courage. Just like the Blitz half a century ago, the community has united against the common enemy - this time nature.