A VILLAGE near York should finally be safe from flooding by the autumn after funding was found to pay for full defences.

Work should start this summer on building a floodbank, sluicegate and pumping station to prevent floodwaters from the River Derwent backing up a beck into Elvington.

Jubilant parish council chairman Ian Bailey said: "This is great news for Elvington, and will give the village 'one in a hundred years' flood protection."

He believed it was the first time anywhere in the UK that a rural community had initiated and funded a 'self-help' flood defence scheme to protect itself.

He said the project, expected to cost about £350,000, was being funded from a variety of sources.

The Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee agreed last year to provide up to £220,000 from a levy on local authorities across Yorkshire to pay for the floodbank and sluicegate.

Mr Bailey said the village's contribution was expected to be around £110,000 - "a remarkable achievement for a relatively small rural community".

He said residents would contribute a total of £40,000 through a loan scheme over 15 years, which would involve raising the parish precept by about £8 per year for an average Band D property.

"Yorkshire Water, which has a very large abstraction and water treatment facility in the village, have agreed to be part of the scheme and have offered assistance with the funding," he said.

"This is especially welcomed as they are a very valued part of our local community."

He said many local businesses were also supporting the scheme, with significant contributions pledged by enterprises including Wm Birch and Rolawn.

He said: "NEDL have assisted in helping to reduce part of the cost of the scheme."

As reported in yesterday's Evening Press, the National Lottery's Awards For All scheme has given the project a £5,000 grant.

City of York councillor Andrew Waller, executive member for environment, said the authority has also contributed £20,000 towards the capital costs, and giving additional help by offering many hours of officers' time.

He said the council also made contributions towards the regional flood committee's local authority levy.

Mr Bailey praised the "strong and personal support" that the scheme had received from Coun Waller, Selby MP John Grogan, and also the co-operation it had got from York council officers.

Updated: 09:52 Saturday, March 18, 2006