RESIDENTS of flood-hit Skinningrove began moving back to their renovated homes this week.

Just over a month ago freak floods destroyed dozens of homes but repairs on 12 properties have been completed and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council planned a special event for the villagers to celebrate.

Each of the dozen homes received a hamper containing food and cleaning materials on Monday, to mark the end of the first phase of the council's work programme, which aims to have completed repairs by mid-October.

Although some residents remained in their homes following the devastating flood, many have been living in temporary accommodation.

It had taken up to four weeks for the worst affected properties to dry out before a council workforce, including five recruits from the village who were unemployed, could begin repairs.

Work involved removing old plaster from the walls, removing sections of internal walls, then replastering and fitting new floor tiles.

Residents were also given the chance to make interior design changes.

Coun Dave McLuckie, the council's Lead Member for Community Safety, who made the presentations, said: "I must pay tribute to the patience and understanding from the residents and the efforts put in by the council workforce.

"We're not pretending things are properly back to normal, but we're certainly getting there. There's real progress being made."

The council hopes another nine homes will be completed on September 1 and a further six on September 22. The remaining 46 properties undergoing repairs should be completed by October 15.