There's neigh doubt about it - horse sense and strength still have their place.

Tees, a massive 17-year old Clydesdale, has shown this week how horse-power can triumph when the going gets tough. With tractors and trailers bogged down in trying to tidy the storm-battered Valley Gardens in Saltburn, he came to the rescue.

In just a few days he has hauled tons of shattered timber from Fairy Glen and the beck which became a raging torrent during the floods.

Bridges were smashed and blocked by the log jam and the railway platform was partly washed away. The railway line, which is to be upgraded as a tourist attraction, was buckled and undermined in a number of places. Near the sea front, a wooden bridge was wrecked and swept out to sea.

An estimate 100 tons of devastated forestry has to be moved, at an estimated cost of £150,000.

Tees works at an East Yorkshire farm where the land was flooded, so was available. His Guisborough owner, Mr Chris Wadsworth, knew Tees was just the horse for the job.

Mr Neil Thirkell, countryside warden, was so impressed by the calm, confident performance of the gentle giant, he phoned Saltburn primary school and suggested pupils come and watch. "They just loved it and marvelled at the way Tees got on with the job of hauling these huge logs. And he certainly knew what he was doing and seemed to give a nod to his owner when he felt he had done his stint for the day."

Mr Ralph Ferguson, Redcar and Cleveland council's chief technical officer said a report would go to the council a in a couple of weeks. "Getting Tees was a stroke of genius.