FLOOD-hit residents of Skinningrove got a warm welcome as they finally moved back into their homes this week.

For waiting for the first 12 families in their newly-repaired homes was a special hamper to mark the big day.

Redcar and Cleveland council sent the hampers of food and cleaning materials to mark the end of the first phase of a programme which aims to complete repairs to more than 40 houses by mid-October.

On Monday, an open air celebration was staged as families finally started to get their lives back to normal after the floods which devastated the village in July.

The council's lead member for community safety, Coun Dave McLuckie, handed over the hampers and said: "I must pay tribute to the patience and understanding from the residents and the efforts put in by the council workforce.

"We are not pretending things are properly back to normal, but we are certainly getting there. Real progress is being made."

It took three to four weeks for the worst-hit properties to dry out before repair work could begin. The council team tackling the job was boosted by five recruits from the village's jobless.

Some residents have stayed in their homes since the flood, while people from eight of the 12 homes ready on Monday have been living in temporary accommodation.

Another nine homes will be completed next Friday, another six on September 22 and the total of 46 properties undergoing repairs - a mix of council, owner-occupier and Endeavour Housing - will be finished by October 15.

The council is still manning an advice surgery in the old school every second Wednesday and the advice centre, which first opened on July 3, is still in operation, also at the old school, as base for the workforce and the housing officer responsible for organising the moves.

Overnight security, with patrols by four guards, is also being maintained.