John Beeney returns home, helped by relief warden Sue
Brenkley

FLOOD victims who were forced out of their council flats in a Richmondshire village last summer have now returned home.

The devastating floods of June and July 2007 caused massive damage across the district - and meant 16 properties at the sheltered accommodation scheme in Gilling West had to be evacuated.

Now all but one of those flood victims have been able to move back to their homes, following intensive cleaning and refurbishment work.

Gavin White, Head of Supported Housing at Richmondshire District Council, said: "I'm really pleased to see the residents are now back in their homes after the months of hard work by Council staff. The residents have been marvellous throughout their ordeal, and their safety and comfort have been a top priority for us."

Among the Gilling West residents who had to move out was 64-year-old John Beeney. Mr Beeney said: "There was a big rainstorm on the afternoon of Thursday, July 19 - and by 10pm we were up to our knees in water.

"Gavin and his team were marvellous. They were here all Thursday night, and they got everyone settled or rehoused by Friday lunchtime. There were eight downstairs flats, and they were all kaput, every single one of them. We just did our best to sort ourselves out and save what we could."

Mr Beeney, who has lived in his Gilling West flat for seven years, moved into alternative accommodation while it was cleared up. He was able to return home in December.

Councillor William Heslop, who represents Gilling West, said: "I'd like to thank the emergency services, Council staff and everyone else involved in getting the residents out and then rehoused safely, and I am delighted that the residents are now back.

"Gilling West has been through a traumatic experience, but the community has shown true resilience in bouncing back after the flooding."

To mark the tenants' return, the Council has invited them all to a formal "reopening" ceremony on January 18 with councillors, Council staff and representatives from other organisations that helped during and after the floods.

Mr White added: "To make sure we don't have to do all this again, the Council has ordered a flood defence system for the building, which will prevent the ingress of water through the doorways."

The flood defence system should be in place next month.