POLICE officers and soldiers joined parish councillors to clear out a beck to help relieve the threat of flooding to a village.

Catterick Garrison's neighbourhood policing team and the Army stepped in to help the clean-up operation at Tunstall, near Catterick.

PC Carol Schofield and police community support officer (PCSO) Judith Allen, from North Yorkshire Police, heard at a parish council meeting how the beck had burst its banks during heavy rain in the summer. Several homes were cut off by deep water.

With the help of the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, from Marne Barracks, and Richmondshire District Council, PC Schofield and PCSO Allen arranged for 14 soldiers with shovels to clear the beck of a build-up of vegetation and silt.

Skips were offered by the council and wheelbarrows, tea, coffee and cakes were provided by villagers.

PC Schofield said: "This was an excellent opportunity to get to know the local community and a great example of what can be achieved by working in partnership with other organisations and the community. It has also created a momentum which will drive future projects within the community."