HOMEOWNERS and businesses are still counting the cost of the floods in Ryedale - and more rain is on the way.

Traders in Pickering were worst affected and some shops and pubs will not reopen until after the busy summer season.

Following the massive deluge last week, residents living in some areas of Pickering, Norton and Malton experienced more flooding after heavy rain on Sunday.

Fire crews were called to Church Street in Norton, Hugden Close in Pickering and the Cornmills in Malton after reports of rainwater creeping into homes. Around 150 sandbags were handed out by council workers at the weekend to people living in Old Malton, Sheriff Hutton, Lilling, Fryton and Slingsby.

Gazette & Herald weatherman Paul Hignett, of Pickering, said yesterday he had measured 34.5mm of rain on Sunday - the highest level in his local records which span the last 10 years.

In that time there has only been more than 25mm of rainfall in one day on six separate occasions - and three of those were in the last fortnight.

And he said the rain is set to continue over the next week. He said: "This is very unusual. The big problem is that the ground is really wet and the water cannot run off.

''There was more than 30mm of rain on June 19 but because the land was dry at that time there was no problem with flooding. As well as the higher than average levels of rain, temperatures for the time of year are below average. This is looking likely to continue for the next week."

Homes and businesses straddling the A169 are still reeling from the effects of last week's floods. Robson Tractors on the Beansheaf industrial estate was due to open last week and sales manager Mark Curtis said they were at a loss as to why the area was flooded "We were in the middle of decorating for the grand opening when the floods came. It couldn't have been at a worse time but thankfully none of the stocks had arrived - so we are not as badly affected as some businesses in Pickering.

"Nobody knows why this has happened here - one lady said it hasn't flooded in this area in the last 50 years.

"Despite the upheaval we are open for business but we will be having an official opening later in the year."

Despite being hit hard by the recent floods in Pickering, the Beck Isle Museum was poised to re-open.

Museum officials have launched a public flood disaster fund for donations towards repairs after waters ripped through the beckside visitor attraction.

Assistant manager of Yorkshire Trading in the Market Place, Sue Howarth, said since Wednesday they had thrown away hundreds of bin bags of ruined stock - and the damage was set to cost the company thousands.

And one of the businesses worst affected was the newly opened Ginger Pig delicatessen - which has been condemned by council environmental health officials.

Shop manager Jenny Handley said: "We don't know when we will be reopened but it will be a matter of months, not days.

"The water caused such destruction and it was really upsetting to see everything swimming about. The counter had even been overturned, the water was that powerful. But everybody has worked hard and it will be a lovely shop again - it will just take time."

The owner of Television House, Matthew Wilkinson, said he had lost stock totalling £20,000 and the damage could cost up to £60,000 to repair.

Although back in business almost immediately, with the help of industrial driers for the drenched floor, he said it had been a blow.

He said: "We had no warning and I know there were other businesses that were also taken by surprise. We didn't even get proper help and assistance from the council until Thursday - it was all a bit slow.

''But we are open for business. We just have to dodge the driers!"

The town's pub trade has taken a battering from the floods. The landlady of The Station Hotel, Dawn Shepherd, said it could be two months before she was back behind the bar.

She was trapped with customers all night on Monday as water gushed into the building from both the front and back doors.

"I have no idea what this is going to cost to repair, we are looking in the region of £50,000, " she said.

Peter Fisher, landlord of the Rose Inn, which nestles by the side of Pickering Beck, said they had been at the front end of a flood before - but nothing on the scale of last week.

The 67-year-old said: "We are used to flooding but this was something else. There was 4ft of water in the bar - it was incredible."


  • Flood victims who had their homes and businesses ruined in Ryedale could be entitled to a share of a new hardship fund.

Since the bursting of the town's beck council officials have agreed to set aside £10,000 to be shared between those worse affected by the floods.

Coun Robert Wainwright, chairman of Ryedale District Council's policy and resources committee, which is offering up the cash, said they hope this will go a little way to help victims.

He said: "My heart goes out to all those people who have been affected by the flooding.

"I am very proud of the efforts of both Ryedale District Council staff and the emergency services in doing their utmost to help all those who have been affected.

"We hope that this money will be able to assist as many people as possible affected by the flood in the Pickering area."

Councillor Howard Keal suggestion the fund should be established and won unanimous backing from the committee.

"So much damage has been done that the money is literally a drop in the ocean but it is intended to do at least something to help relieve immediate hardship, " he said.

"Home owners and businesses will be able to apply for help where it is needed as well as other organisations that have been hit.

"It is particularly difficult for places which were refused insurance and this time the floods were more severely than ever.

"We have to do what we can to help, " he said. "I hope the fund will be managed locally and added to with further donations."

Anybody who would like to know more about the fund should ring Ryedale District Council on 01653 600666.