HUMBERSIDE Fire and Rescue has drafted in an extra high-volume pump in a bid to tackle outbreaks of flooding.
Villagers in Burton Fleming, where the roads are under several feet of water, were concerned yesterday to see the fire crews had left.
They were called away at 2am to deal with rising floods at Willow Grove in Beverley.
Burton Fleming resident Justine Sutcliffe said: "The crews were pulled out during the night but, in the morning, there was more water outside my house than there had been before.
"I rang 999 but was told they weren't bringing the pump because it was not a state of emergency.
"They left the Environment Agency pump but that seemed to be causing more problems than it was solving."
Beverley watch manager John Stevens said crews were withdrawn at about 2am on Friday because the Environment Agency had supplied additional pumps. A Humberside Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "The Environment Agency had put in four pumps.
"They monitored the situation for about an hour to make sure the water levels remained the same and they did.
"But the water levels began to rise again, so we sent it back to assist with further pumping."
Faced with a growing number of emergencies and insufficient equipment, Humberside Fire and Rescue has called on a nationally available high-volume pump that can be used as a back-up.
It means fire service equipment should be able to stay on the scene in Burton Fleming.
Problems started in the village when the Gypsey Race watercourse burst its banks on Christmas Eve. About 15 houses have been flooded with some people moving their belongings upstairs and others moving out to stay with relatives.
With the ground saturated, water is coming up from underground through people's floorboards.
The chalk aquifer underground is full, so even if water is pumped away it can come back up.
Emergency crews have been able to do little more than try to keep water out of people's homes.
They had nowhere to pump the water to but tactics were changed yesterday.
The fire service spokesman said: "Now we are using hose reels to pump water, bypassing the village."
Villagers, who have pulled together to help each other out, simply feel reassured to see the fire crews.
Tony Gibson, who runs the Burton Arms, said: "The crews have been fantastic, all the work they have put in. I can't praise them highly enough."
Water levels in the village were stabilised last night.
But they were not reducing and more rain was forecast this morning, although it was expected to be lighter.
