THE surf was up for this extreme sportsman, who took full advantage of the flooded River Ouse.

Windsurfer John Eyre, 40, of Water End, York, saw the deep reservoir that had formed on the flood plain at Clifton Ings and reached for his board.

The self-employed handyman took the afternoon off to get on the water, saying: "It is a one-off chance."

He said: "I only live around the corner so I thought I'd have a go. I don't think anybody has sailed there before.

"I know all the windsurfers around York and nobody has done it, so I thought I would be the first to pilot the fields."

John, who has been windsurfing for eight years, said a rare combination of deep floodwater and high winds had made the fields navigable.

"You have only got a window of about six hours when it is full like that, because you need quite deep water," he said.

"The biggest danger was the trees, and I got chased by a few dogs when I got too close to the side."

Residents of Towthorpe, near Strensall, had to find diversions after a collapsed drain flooded a road linking the village with the A64.

Edward Sykes, of the Farmer's Cart, near the flood in Towthorpe Moor Lane, said some cars had got stuck in the deep water.

Tomorrow's charity duck race on the Ouse in York has been postponed because of high water. Money raised was to go towards the building of a community playground in Ghana.

It it hoped the race will now take place on April 30.

Updated: 08:44 Saturday, April 01, 2006