A FARMER intends to create his own flood defences after losing 23 piglets when the River Gaunless burst its banks.

Robert Allan, who runs Lowgarth Farm, at Witton-le-Wear, suffered about £17,000 worth of damage and lost two litters of pigs in the floods.

There was no time for him to save the livestock, which drowned when 7ft of water washed into the field.

In an effort to avoid a repeat of the June 4 tragedy, he has applied for planning permission to create a barricade of soil between his fields and the river.

Business partner Malcolm Cresswell, who helps to run the pig side of the farm, witnessed the devastation.

He said: "You could see the sows swimming about looking for their piglets, but they had drowned.

"Historically, we've had a problem with floods. We were on the early flood warning, but didn't receive one."

He said they were not the only farmers counting the cost of the floods. "The next farmer to us had his barley and wheat crops damaged. The sand the water brought with it is sticking to the hay, so he can't feed it to the cattle."