Fund set up to help flood victims

The fund will be run separately from the £100,000 emergency sum made available by Redcar and Cleveland council to help villagers cope with the devastation caused by flash-floods earlier this month (see report page 5).

It will be administered by Loftus Development Trust.

The move came as a pensioner penned an emotional tribute to emergency workers in Skinningrove.

A letter from Mr Jim Hall, who moved out of his terraced home in High Street this week for repair work to begin, has touched the hearts of the council task force.

Retired British Steel worker Mr Hall, aged 65, wrote: "I would like to say, on behalf of all residents, a 100pc thank you for helping the flood victims.

"We are a close-knit community and I, for one, will never forget what you have done for us. Words cannot express our feelings."

The council's project co-ordinator Mr Joe Youmans said: "Jim's letter brought a lump to the throats of everyone here.

"Our aim has always been to show residents we want to help them rebuild their lives and their homes. A letter like this means so much to everyone.

"Jim is a smashing bloke and what we want most of all is to welcome him back to his home as soon as possible."

Council workers and volunteers helped clear up, WRVS staff provided a meals service, the council set up its £100,000 relief fund and an advice centre to deal with immediate problems of furniture, clothing and domestic tasks, and children from a local school collected clothing.

But the scale of the disaster was summed up by Coun Dave McLuckie who said: "I saw a fast-flowing filthy stream gushing down High Street.

"The faces I saw were those of sheer desperation."

Council leader Coun David Walsh said: "We all know how the community is suffering. If people want to make donations to ease Skinningrove's plight, it will be most welcome as it will be coming from the heart."

The fund will be based at Barclays Bank in Loftus. The sort code is 20-56-78 and the account number 70045527.