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Clear-up from the Boxing Day floods continues

Flooding on Boxing Day devastated large parts of Yorkshire.

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Flood devastation 'could have been avoided'

A former government advisor says the devastation caused by unprecedented rainfall in our region was predicted years ago - and could have been avoided.

It is a month since areas including the Calder Valley were deluged with water on Boxing Day. Homes and businesses were submerged, and many people had to be rescued.

The 300-year old Tadcaster bridge collapsed last month

''In the 1990s we produced a comprehensive report, which is still valid today. Just pointing out that this was likely to happen.

''At the time the labour government, and successive governments did nothing either. They think that because climate change is a slow-burn problem, it won't happen on our watch.''

– Prof Richard Ashley, Sheffield University

Meanwhile, today in Mytholmroyd, 30 soldiers took to the streets, helping to batten down the hatches as the rain continued to fall.

Kgn curran , Kgn Bateman , Kgn Hughes, 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster Regiment

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