SHOCKED residents were recovering yesterday after floods hit their community for the third time in as many months.

It is just three months since the east Cleveland village of Skinningrove was devastated by floods - and on Monday the waters returned.

But on Thursday night, the village was again thrown into turmoil as the beck burst its banks and swamped the village with mud and sewage, wreaking havoc on 165 properties.

Crews from Redcar, Staithes and Teesmouth lifeboats were called as homes flooded to depths of 4ft. They used an inflatable boat to evacuate almost 60 people. A rescue helicopter from RAF Leconfield was also called.

Residents were evacuated to Rosecroft School, Loftus, which was turned into an emergency rest centre.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's emergency planning team was mobilised for the second time in a week by chief executive Colin Moore.

Hours earlier, councillors and villagers expressed outrage at vandals who kicked out sections of a wall of sandbags, knocking 150 bags into the beck.

Yesterday, villagers and council workers began the clean up operation - again.

Terence Hall, 66, of the High Street, has lived in Skinningrove all his life and was evacuated from his home for the second time in three months.

He said: "We had just got everything in nice and new. I thought nothing bothered me until this happened. I have nearly broken down."

Loftus town councillor Andrew Downs was rescued by neighbour Brian Sayers, 36, after he was found face down in the water.

Mr Downs, 53, said: "I thought I was on the path but I was on the grass, I lost my foot and went into the mud. I thought I was going to die."

Jennifer Earl, 52, of The Square, said: "It was absolutely frightening. It is unbelievable now. I have never been so frightened in all my life. I am going to worry every time it rains."

At a meeting with the council yesterday, residents agreed to a second evacuation.

Councillor Dave McLuckie said later: "Last night was the worst night of my life. I've never seen so much misery and devastation.

"I am absolutely gutted that the work which was achieved has been swept aside. But we must be positive, and I can say that Redcar and Cleveland Council will work tirelessly to bring Skinningrove and the surrounding communities back to normal as soon as is humanly possible."

One resident, Jennifer Scottch, in her sixties, suffered a heart attack in the village hall because of panic caused by the floods, and another resident, suffering from multiple sclerosis, had to be airlifted out of the village.

l Police officer Heather Close was almost swept away in Skinningrove High Street. The officer fell on her way to rescuing a pensioner trapped in a bungalow.

Colleague Trevor Kime grabbed Heather's jacket and brought her head clear of the flood. The officers carried on to the elderly woman's house and arranged for her to be taken to safety in a council lorry