PARISH councils in a North Yorkshire district are being urged to help create a bank of sandbag stores in case more flooding strikes.

The September floods saw Hambleton District Council officers issue almost 4,000 bags, but some areas could not be accessed because of the weather.

The authority now wants stores to be set up in “key locations” and will provide the bags free of charge as long as there is an area to keep them dry. Kirby Wiske is currently the only Hambleton parish with a sandbag store.

Residents wanting more information should phone the council's operations manager, Paul Staines, on 01609 788103.