COMMUNITY spirit and big-hearted volunteers have been praised by flood victims speaking at Bradford Council’s second consultation on the Boxing Day disaster.

But the council, emergency services and other state sector bodies were dammed for a perceived lack of presence and coherent strategy.

Councillor Arshad Hussain is leading the corporate overview and scrutiny committee review of the how the Council handled the crisis and told the packed room: “I need to know how you were affected , how the Council performed and how we can improve our services to you.

“We want to put everything in place to minimise damage from any future floods.”

Council staff noted victims’ experiences and opinions to be compiled into a report.

Retired lecturer Rod Tickner, 68,of Florist Street, Stockbridge, Keighley told how his cellar filled to within nine inches of his floorboards.

“I lived through the 2000 floods and thankfully the wall built in 2001 held the river back or another 300 homes could have been flooded.

“But nothing can stop water from coming up from below.

“I have to say there was a lot of good community support community from a lot of good neighbours, but not much more.”

Design technology teacher Majid Khan of nearby Bradford Road had a filled cellar. “I saw the drains being unblocked afterwards and they were solid.

“When I rang 999 I felt fobbed off. I rang the Council but could not get through.

“There was no police, nobody from the Environment Agency and nobody from Yorkshire Water - there was no organisation.

“It was all about local support with people rolling up their sleeves to help.”

Connie Hayes lives in one of 45 flooded houses in Ash Grove, Bingley.

“It was devastating, I expected the police to come and but they didn’t.

“Nobody came apart from Michelle Chapman and the Bingley Flood Support Group, which was so heartwarming.

“It was five days before we got some sandbags - which we didn’t need by then.”

Her partner Kevin Sunderland added: “There was nobody to get any information from, not a single person wearing a jacket with a Bradford Council badge on it.”

All agreed that social media sites were the best source of facts during the crisis.

Ward Councillor Simon Cooke (Con, Bingley) said the Council should have its own Facebook page for emergencies.

“It would only take five minutes to set up,” he said.