Boscastle sends village flood aid

A phone box was partially submerged in Catcliffe

Boscastle, which was hit by floods three years ago, is sending clothes, food and toys to a flood-stricken village in Yorkshire.

Two hundred homes and businesses in Catcliffe were devastated by flooding in June.

Artist Raymond Rogers, whose Boscastle home was flooded to a depth of more than 5ft in 2004, is packing his car with 24 "comfort" boxes.

Local people are also inviting Catcliffe residents to Cornwall.

Pitfalls ahead

Mr Rogers, who is leaving for Catcliffe on Tuesday with another Boscastle resident, Trixie Webster, said: "The monetary value is very little, but acts of kindness like this mean a tremendous amount."

He will be offering Catcliffe people advice on avoiding pitfalls ahead, with insurance, builders and local authorities.

He said: "Middle England will rally around places like Tewkesbury which like Boscastle in a way, was a very sexy flood.

"The likes of Hull, Toll Bar and Catcliffe will be left to struggle amongst themselves."