THE true extent of the damage caused by flooding in an East Riding village is starting to be revealed as the water starts to subside.
Burton Fleming has been under water since December 23, when the Gypsey Race watercourse burst its banks.
With the ground saturated, water has been coming up underground through people's floorboards.
Burton Fleming parish councillor Keith Wells said the water level has now dropped.
He said: "The main crossroads are still under about 10in of water.
"Residents are getting tired and it is wearing people down.
"I've heard of the first residents getting the insurance companies down to assess the damage.
"It is too early to say the cost of the damage to the homes. It is an unknown quantity at the minute.
"Residents are still coming to terms with what has happened."
Most roads in and out of the village are impassable and the emergency services were at one stage pumping 29,000 litres of water away from the village every minute.
Officials are unable to say how long the water may remain in the village, although Mr Wells fears it is more likely to be weeks rather than days.
He said: "We had 880mm of rain in 2012.
"In a normal year, this would be about 600mm.
"It is two weeks since the problem arose. There is no quick fix.
"One big lesson that needs to be learnt from this is that the drains and ditches need to be cleared – not just here but other areas in the region.
"They were put there to transport the water and that is not happening as well as it could.
"There is a financial constraint and there are a lot of ditches and drains not getting the maintenance they had in the past."
East Riding Council is continuing to work with the Environment Agency to support residents in the village.
John Skidmore, head of streetscene services at the council, said three pumps are currently in use and the council has a good stock of sandbags.
He said: "Flood waters are very slowly reducing but Front Street remains closed to traffic and the council would urge commuters to avoid Burton Fleming wherever possible.
"Council staff remain on the ground to support residents and offer whatever assistance they can, with door-knocking continuing.
"In spite of the drier weather forecast, the council is keeping operations in Burton Fleming and at other affected locations in the East Riding under review.
"Staff will continue to be on stand-by 24/7 to support residents."
The council will hold a further drop-in session at the village hall on Saturday, at 11am, to discuss the latest situation and how they can best support the Burton Fleming community.
The first meeting on New Year's Eve was attended by more than 100 residents and representatives from East Riding Council and the Environment Agency.
