THE clear up operation has begun on the Yorkshire coast after last week’s tidal surge.

At Spurn Point, 38 rare Hebridean sheep drowned in the storm after they were moved to land thought to be safe from flooding only for the tide to devastate the flood barriers and inundate the land.

The sheep belonged to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, which runs the Spurn National Nature Reserve, and Chief Executive Rob Stoneman said they are devastated to lose almost all of its flock of 45. A large part of the peninsula will now wash over at high tide, meaning the Trust has to find a way to reconnect utilities to its tenants Associated British Ports and the RNLI and assess how safe the remaining sections of road are, he said.

Mr Stoneman said: “Our thoughts are with our neighbours in the Holderness area, many of whom have been seriously affected by the tidal surge last week.