WEATHER conditions over the weekend caused chaos around Craven, with the authorities out in force rescuing stranded people and livestock from the flash floods.

The fire brigade alone attended about 40 incidents as more than 50mm of rainfall fell in 12 hours on Saturday night.

Between 80 and 100 people were left stranded outside Bliss nightclub in Skipton in the early hours of Sunday morning when flooding meant for many the journey home was impossible.

Craven District Council offered to open the town hall to house the stranded nightclubbers but some made alternative transport arrangements.

Others were housed at the Travelodge on Gargrave Road, and were joined by more marooned travellers rescued by the fire brigade.

Forty people slept in the corridors and laundry room of the Travelodge and staff were praised for their helpfulness.

On Friday night, police received a 999 call from four people in a vehicle stuck in a flood between Linton and Swinden Quarry, Cracoe.

The water was three feet up the side of the car when the fire brigade attended and the electrics had failed. The passengers were lifted to dry ground.

A spokesman from the Fire Brigade said that the passengers took the best course of action by staying in the car, as the water was not rising and the car was not moving.

Great Mills in Skipton suffered flooding which caused minimal damage but forced the store to close on Sunday. Disappointed customers were given vouchers to use in the store on Monday.

Great Mills' marketing director Jill Keen said: "There was a fantastic response from local businesses. Real community spirit was shown in the face of the crisis."

Polyan Covers in Cononley suffered damage estimated at between £3,500 and £4,000 when overflow from the Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream factory flooded the building.

Dorothy Greenwood, of Polyan Covers, said: "It looked just like a waterfall over the banks. I have never seen anything like it before."

Boat experts launched a rescue mission for sheep stranded in the Snaygill area. The operation involved canoeists Mike Armstrong, Kevin Sims and Lindsay Howard, three members of British Waterways and John Eddison of Pennine Marine.

"It was only what anyone else would do. No-one wants to see sheep drown," said Mr Eddison.

Twenty-five yews and 30 sheep were brought to safety, and the Fire Brigade has praised all those involved for their help.

Sheep were also reported marooned between Farnhill and Kildwick and 15 cows were forced to swim for safety near Carleton Bridge.

Flooding on the A59 between East and West Marton; and between Skipton and Broughton caused problems for vehicles.

Carleton village was cut off and the road between Gargrave and Broughton was impassable.

In Hellifield, the heavy rain evoked memories of the floods of two years ago when a large amount of damage was caused in the village. Though not on the same scale as the downpour of 1998, enough rain fell to cause the Institute to be slightly flooded.

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