HAMBLETON District Council's new flood line failed Thirsk residents on Monday morning when flood water from the Cod Beck rose, breaking its banks.

The river rose 7ft and water came within 9in of properties.

But after receiving a flood warning at 2.30am on Sunday, alarmed residents trying to ring the helpline for advice and to request sandbags could not get through.

At this week's Thirsk Town Council meeting, several residents expressed their fears.

Mo Penson, speaking on behalf of residents of Riverside Mews, said: "We received a flood warning at 2.30am from the environment agency and were told to move furniture upstairs, remove children and prepare to move out of our homes."

Yet a request for sandbags was not answered until 12.30pm on Monday, by which time the path outside the houses and garden area was cut off by water.

"Fortunately, the river peaked at 8.30am. We should have received warnings and sandbags 24 hours earlier," she said.

She found it impossible to believe than no-one noticed the river was rising rapidly on Sunday and that sandbags were not delivered and other precautions taken earlier.

"I have recently renewed our home insurance and because of the flood risk the premium has increased 100 per cent and we now have a £3,000 excess. Had we had to move out in the middle of the night, where would we have gone? I understand that there was a technical hitch with the telephone answering equipment, but would the council have compensated us had we been flooded out?" she said.

Kay Konieczny, of Finkle Street, the scene of heavy flooding four years ago, said: "The river went up seven feet where we live and was within nine inches of coming into the house. My husband is 80 years old and unwell. Luckily, we have new neighbours who helped us. There is obviously no co-ordination among the agencies."

County and district councillor Jan Marshall said she had called the help line and could not get an answer. She then rang the leader of the council, who rang the chief executive and was told that the flood warning system had been triggered at 1am. The flood line was staffed and staff sent to Great Ayton and other areas where flooding was occurring, but there had been a problem with the new telephone helpline.

Coun Arthur Barker had promised a full investigation, she said.

Coun Steve Hubbard said: "The flood help line failed miserably. Obviously a lot of things fell down and I shall be compiling a report for the chief executive to answer."

Coun Freda Roberts said: "This was not just a problem, it was an absolute disgrace. Hambleton have promised all kinds of help since the 2000 flooding and have the nerve to say that there is a 24/7 flood line."

Cyril Dyke, head of customer information services, said: "Unfortunately, due to a technical problem with the telephone system at the Civic Centre, the transfer mechanism didn't happen to the flood line. The telephone system was down at the weekend for major work and it was very unfortunate the technical problem coincided with the heavy rainfall.

"We would like to apologise to our customers."

* County on flood alert: page 9