THE Catterick-based soldiers who helped with flood relief efforts in Yorkshire have been formally thanked by their local MP.

Tory Rishi Sunak spoke to the members of the Light Dragoons who cut short their Christmas break to help the thousands of people hit by the widespread flooding on Boxing Day.

The soldiers were recalled from leave the day after Boxing Day and within hours were deployed to the Calder Valley where they helped stricken families with clear-up operations.

They filled and stacked hundreds of sandbags to keep the rising waters at bay.

Captain Luke Doddington said it had been a positive experience for his men. “It was very challenging at times but the men were pleased to do their bit," he said.

Mr Sunak, who spent a morning with the men at their Gaza Barracks base, said he was very impressed by what the Light Dragoons along with the other Catterick-based units and the emergency services had achieved.

He said: “They demonstrated great commitment to leave their loved ones to help others facing the terrible trauma of being flooded out of their homes at Christmas.”

“It is testament to the tremendous skills and adaptability of the British Army that it was able to provide this sort of practical assistance to people in desperate straits almost at the drop of a hat.”