A FLOOD group has started to take the protection of its community into its own hands after receiving a grant to do de-silting work in a stream.

The Brompton Flood Prevention Group got permission from the Environment Agency and North Yorkshire County Council to clear Brompton Beck of excess silt and debris.

Group chairman Sue Butler said: “We had won a grant of £500 from a competition run by Skipton Building Society and the cost of de-silting the beck was £460.

“We took it on ourselves because the council could not afford to do it, but we have worked with them to get permission and follow the proper regulations – for instance we had to do the work before April so as not to harm fish.

“Local farmer James Coxon drove the digger for us and took the silt to his land, where he is storing it until he can transport it to another farm that can use it.

“The committee was on hand to help keep the public safe and tidied up the village green afterwards.”

Mrs Butler said the next project for the group was to raise around £200,000 for natural flood defences, which she said would be a longer term project completed in stages.