Flooded out

The skies opened, the rains came and for hundreds of residents it was the start of watery nightmare.

Air and water: This striking view of the Derwent valley taken this afternoon clearly shows the centre of Stamford Bridge under several feet of flood water. Aerial picture by David Harrison

Water world: A cyclist attempts to cross the main street at Stamford Bridge, where the River Derwent burst its banks and caused extensive flooding. Picture: Richard Doughty

A boy in a dinghy makes the most of the flooded main street in Stamford Bridge. Picture: Mike Tipping

A canoeist makes the most of the flooded streets of Stamford Bridge after the River Derwent burst its banks. Picture: Richard Doughty

Floods, the worst seen in the region in almost 70 years, continue to wreak havoc - and water levels are rising.

People in Malton and Stamford Bridge were preparing to be evacuated from their homes after the River Derwent burst its banks, leaving streets and properties under up to five feet of water.

North Yorkshire County Council's Social Services team today opened two emergency rest centres at Norton College and Malton Secondary School for evacuated families.

And in an unprecedented move the Environment Agency has issued 5,000 sandbags normally reserved for major flooding in York. A "red warning" is now in force.

But for many, damage limitation is too late. Pubs, shops and houses have been left devastated by the fast-rising water and many locals feel they were warned too late.

The highest flooding of the river since 1931 started with a low pressure weather system in the North Sea, causing unusually high rainfall on the North York Moors. Melting snow on high ground compounded the problem.

Pickering was first to be hit on Saturday, with levels now abating. But Malton and Norton soon followed, with 100 properties flooded.

River levels are not expected to reach their peak in Malton and Old Malton until tomorrow morning, but Stamford Bridge is bracing itself for ever-increasing water levels with levels reaching their peak at this point on Wednesday.

Bryan Nelson, co-ordinating the Environment Agency's flood team, said: "This is the biggest flood since 1931. In Malton and Norton the roads are blocked and under three feet of water. People are living upstairs. A red warning is in place and that's the highest code of alert.

"In Stamford Bridge, the peak is still two days away. There's really nothing we can do but wait until the waters subside. It's an act of God."

Peter Hynd, landlord of The Swordsman, in Stamford Bridge, watched in horror as water first poured in his back door, then the front entrance to meet in the middle of his pub and continue rising.

Despite sterling efforts from his regulars to save carpets and stock in his cellar, he has suffered "massive" damage and is now stranded and living on limited supplies in the upstairs of the pub.

"Main Street is literally part of the river. It's just dreadful," he said. "Now it's at least waist deep down in my pub. I managed to save a few bottled beers but when this water has gone we will have a massive task to get things fixed this time."

Malton Station and the bus station are closed, although buses were reported to be getting through on some routes.

The A169 Malton to Pickering road closed at Howe Bridge and queues of traffic built up on the A64 as motorists tried to gain access to Malton and Norton.

The Environment Agency has now set up an emergency flood Hotline for all those effected. The number is 0645 881188. For information on closed roads call AA Roadwatch 0336 401100 (non-members), or North Yorkshire Police Roadline on 01723 509523.

Yorkshire turns into water world

Residents count cost of flooding

Carl Robson and his son Jamie, six, wade through flood waters in Hugden Close in Pickering. Picture: Garry Atkinson

Residents of a cul-de-sac were stranded by a "lake" of raw sewage as North and East Yorkshire were hit by the worst flooding in 30 years.

Towns along the River Derwent - which burst its banks overnight - were today counting the cost after water swallowed up roads and flooded into buildings.

Emergency workers had to call in extra supplies of sandbags after issuing more than 2,000 to homeowners threatened by rising water levels.

Main roads in Pickering were under a foot of water but the worst affected were residents in Hugden Close, where raw sewage was reported to be mixed in with the rising water level.

Stricken residents of the cul-de-sac's 40 semi-detached houses were helpless as they waited for contractors to pump the waste away after the flooding began on Saturday.

Mother-of-two Joanne Robson said: "We were stranded in our own homes. It would not be so bad if it was just rain, but you could see raw sewage floating around. It bubbles up out of the manholes. It was absolutely disgusting and the stench was terrible.

"There are 40 children who live and play in this street."

Her neighbour Dawn Harrison, a mother of two, said: "There was toilet paper floating around and you could smell the sewage."

Ryedale District Council's head of contract services, John Davidson, described the flooding at Hudgen Close as "like a big lake".

Meanwhile, firefighters were called to Buttercrambe, near Stamford Bridge, to rescue a woman trapped in her car by the floods yesterday.

And at Stamford Bridge itself, canoeists paddled along the main road, while at two nearby pubs, landlords counted the cost of the flood damage.

The Corn Mill's owners woke yesterday to find the lower bar, toilets and cellar under two foot of water, ruining the carpets. At the Swordsman Inn, by the bridge, landlady June Hynd added: "Everything in the cellar is written off and we will be closed for days. The square outside is now a lake."

Stamford Bridge parish council chairman Vic Naylor said: "It is the worst flooding in 30 years. The whole village is closed."At Elvington, the village green was also submerged.

The Environment Agency issued red alerts on Sunday morning to warn householders along the route of the River Derwent that their properties were in danger.

Commuters left stranded

Commuters in Malton were left stranded today as road and rail routes out of the town were brought to a halt by the floods.

The train now standing in water: This was the scene at Malton Station, captured by reader Wendy Leadbeater

The railway track at Malton station was submerged overnight and most of the roads in the town were flooded.

Simon Taylor, from Northern Spirit, said a replacement bus service was operating on the York to Scarborough route, but that it was not stopping in Malton.

Denise Raven, from the AA, said the worst affected main roads were the A169 from Pickering to Malton, the A166 at Stamford Bridge and the B1228 to Elvington.

Most roads in Malton town centre were also affected.

Earlier today the only way into Malton was by the A64.

Schools keep a level head

A group of sixth form students made their way through the flood waters to sit an A' Level physics exam today as most schools in Malton and Norton closed their doors for the day. Malton Secondary School opened for exams today, but was shut for all other pupils, as were Norton College, Malton County Primary and Norton County Primary.

Malton School secretary Jenny Capstick said: "The school itself is not affected but quite a lot of people coming in from Pickering, Old Malton and Norton are." Schools in Stamford Bridge were open as usual.

Flood chaos in Malton and Norton

A car attempts to get through the flooded street of Pickering floods. Picture: Anthony Johnson

Chaos reigned in Malton and Norton today as flood controllers ordered virtually every road to close after three to four feet of water covered streets.

Access into the towns was maintained only on the A64 from York as residents woke to the worst floods in nearly 70 years.

Officers at an emergency control centre, opened today in Ryedale District Council's headquarters to coordinate the operation, were monitoring the river's rise and preparing to evacuate residents from water-logged homes.

Social services have been contacted and alternative accommodation for families arranged in schools and colleges in the region.

Now police, including divers, are keeping a close watch on the continued rise in water levels and the threat it puts residents in.

Sgt Dave Cooper, working in the control room, said: "We are certainly looking at the possibility of getting some people out of their homes, particularly in Town Street, Old Malton, which is a particular danger area.

"We are keeping a close watch on what is happening to the river, but we are expecting it to keep rising. Its peak is not thought to arrive until about 6pm today.

"Nearly all the roads have been closed and, as you can imagine, it is absolute chaos."

Wet weather set to continue The wet weather is set to continue for the rest of the week, forecasters said today.

Martin Airey, from the PA Weather Centre said rain would continue to come in from the North Sea over the next two days.

"There will then be a more organised band of heavy rain coming in from the south later in the week which might bring snow on the hills," he said.

"The picture keeps changing but it is going to be a wet week, but the weekend does look a bit better."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.