FLOODS minister Elliot Morley this week offered hope to a community devastated by repeated downpours.

Skinningrove was hit by flooding twice last year and the village is still counting the cost.

A group of villagers, together with officials and councillors from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, met Mr Morley in London on Tuesday.

The group pressed Mr Morley to grant main river status to Kilton Beck, which flows through the village, so it would come under the care of the Environment Agency.

The agency would also have to prepare flood plans, help to meet flood defence costs, and provide a weather forecasting service. At the moment, it is up to the local authority, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, to foot the bill.

Mr Morley told the group he would consider granting the beck main river status, and said extra cash could be applied for under the terms of the Bellwin Scheme - designed to help communities affected by natural disasters.

There was more good news when the group was told the council could put in a retrospective bid for flood defence costs.

Local authorities were told to wait, but Redcar and Cleveland council started defence work immediately, because of the fear of another disaster striking the village, and has so far spent more than £300,000.

Council leader David Walsh said: "The minister was clearly impressed by the strength of views from the local people."

The meeting was arranged by Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar.