FLOOD victims breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after predictions of a second devastating torrent proved wide of the mark.

As freak weather swept across England, including a tornado near Coventry and a washout at the Glastonbury Festival, residents of Helmsley and Thirsk, North Yorkshire, were spared a second wave of the flash floods that struck on Sunday.

Thousands of sandbags had been drafted in and Robyn Myshrall, of North Yorkshire County Council, said hundreds of personnel were on standby yesterday.

"By 5pm, we began uncrossing our fingers," he said.

Helmsley butcher Brian Thompson had feared for the worst after seeing his shop wrecked and his flock of 300 sheep swept as much as a mile down river on Sunday.

"I was praying that lightning wouldn't strike twice," he said, as his shop re-opened yesterday.

Today, he will be visited by Lord Crathorne, the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, who is touring the towns hit by the floods.

John Davison, of Ryedale District Council, said a major clean-up operation was still under way to remove debris from rivers and restore damaged property.

"Miles of fencing have been ripped out and there is stock missing all over the place," he said.

Meanwhile, a Hawnby farmer is celebrating after one of his calves was found safe, after being washed three miles downstream to Rievaulx.

The latest weather warnings had cast doubt over the Pitman's Derby race meet in Newcastle and the British Road Track Cycling event at Duncombe Park, Helmsley, this weekend, but both events will go ahead as planned.

Weather nightmare - Page