VICTIMS of the Christmas floods in York last year could now be in line for a somewhat nicer surprise this festive season.

The York Flood Appeal Fund is offering an extra £300 to households who were inundated last December, to help make this year’s Christmas rather more fun.

Fund chief executive Jan Garrill said hundreds of residents had an extremely difficult festive season last year after the Foss and Ouse rivers burst their banks on Boxing Day, with celebrations cut short and precious items lost.

She said some were now looking forward to Christmas with trepidation, as it brought back painful memories, and some children and adults who were flooded out of their homes were now becoming anxious every time it rained.

She said the £300 was being offered to every household which was flooded and had already received a grant from the fund – about 250 households – but anyone who was flooded and had not yet applied to the appeal could still do so.

In a letter to residents she said: “Whilst money can never heal the pain or bring back things that were lost, we hope this additional grant will help you make Christmas 2016 a little more festive.

Ms Garrill added: “As well as this award of £300, we continue to help people with funds and goods as people move back into their homes and try to get their lives back on track.”

To date the fund has awarded some £700,000 in grants.