The big clean up started in Pickering today after the floods on Monday night and early Tuesday morning.

Lindsay Burr, owner of Goodys Hair and Beauty Salon, which was one of a string of businesses in the Bridge Street and Market Place which was under three feet of water said: "The water levels from the river had now subsided. There are a lot of skips being brought in but businesses are now awaiting inspections by insurance assessors. Obviously they are extremely busy and having to give priority to families and their homes in the worst hit areas of Yorkshire."

She added: "I do hope that all the Pickering business are fully insured because it is going to cost a lot of money to put this damage right."

She expects her own business to be closed for between six and eight weeks, but customers are being transferred to Goodys salons in Malton, Norton and Kirkbymoorside.

"We are fortunate in that we do have other outlets, but most businesses in Pickering don't, so they are really suffering."

Mrs Burr, a Ryedale councillor, said: "It will take a long time for all our business to be re-fitted because of the pressure on builders and other traders as well as suppliers."

There was better news at Malton and Norton where there had been fears that the River Derwent may burst its banks, despite the multi-million pound defence works.

Councillor Howard Keal, who was one of the leaders in the campaign for the defence work for the twin towns said: "They have worked very effectively and did an excellent job. Without them, many businesses and homes would have been flooded this week."