A SMALL team which came to the rescue when floods struck hundreds of homes last year has won a national award.

Staff at the Wear Valley Volunteer Development Agency swung into action last June, when heavy rain swelled rivers and streams in their area.

With more than 350 homes affected, mainly alongside the River Gaunless in Bishop Auckland, an appeal went out for aid for the victims.

Some homes were so badly damaged that people spent months living in caravans and other temporary accommodation.

Working with staff from the district council, the agency's five paid workers set up a crisis centre at their headquarters, in Crook, and co-ordinated a relief effort which lasted until February.

Furniture, bedding, linen, paint, curtains, crockery and money were sent in to their offices in Crook Business Centre.

Volunteers helped with deliveries, sorting and cleaning furniture and equipment, and helping to clean the homes of people who were too frail to do it themselves.

Now, British Airways has recognised the team's efforts by presenting a Flying High partnership award.

District councillors added their own plaudits to the team when vice-chairman Wilf Dobinson presented a members with a plaque on Wednesday night.

The council's finance director, Eddie Scrivens, who took charge of the crisis, said: "The extent and depth of work from the Volunteer Development Agency has been tremendous, and I know that they have been approached by other agencies in other parts of the country which were subsequently flooded, for advice and guidance."

The agency has teamed up with volunteers in Teesdale to establish a new partnership, called 2D, which will be launched at Auckland Castle on May 10