TOURISM outlets have stressed that it is now "business as usual" in North Yorkshire after last weekend's devastating flash floods.

The floods caused millions of pounds of damage around the region as nearly a month's rain fell in three hours after a weekend heatwave.

North Yorkshire was one of the worst-affected places with dozens of homes flooded.

Last week, visitor numbers dropped as tourists were put off travelling to the county.

Jean Marsden, from Helmsley Tourist Information Centre (TIC), said she had taken calls from all over the country asking if it was safe to visit.

She said: "We're very much open for business now here. I think some of the coach drivers who would normally stop off here have taken different routes.

"I think some people got the wrong idea and thought all of Helmsley has closed.

"Some of the shops have suffered, normally they would be busy, but this last week has been quite quiet.

"We're hoping to bring all the visitors back in again, nearly all the attractions are back open.

"Things are beginning to pick up, especially with the good weather this weekend and the TIC has been very busy. Helmsley Castle has also had a lot of visitors."

A spokeswoman for the James Herriot Centre, in Thirsk, also said visitor numbers were back up again this weekend.

She said: "We were quieter than normal on Monday. I think some people saw the reports and thought the whole area was cut off."

The Moors were visited at the weekend by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire James Crathorne, who toured Hambleton and Ryedale, visiting communities that had been affected by the floods.

One of the sites was Hawnby, where a temporary bridge had been put in place to replace the village's badly-damaged Chapel Bridge.

He also visited Helmsley, Boltby, Thirlby and Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, near Thirsk.

Lord Crathorne also met Brian Thompson, a Helmsley butcher and a member of the town council.

The floods ruined £3,000-worth of meat, drowned 30 of his sheep and left black silt throughout his home and shop.

However, people rallied round to help him clear up and he was trading again by the weekend.