EXACTLY four months to the day since the Boxing Day floods hit Bradford district, the recovery is still mixed for sports clubs and businesses wrecked by the deluge.

Some, such as the Brown Cow pub on Ireland Bridge, Bingley are now restored and fully open, but others, such as the Boathouse at Saltaire, the Half Moon Cafe in Roberts Park or Baildon Recreation Centre still have closed doors.

In February, Jas Bhatt, owner of the Boathouse, said it needed a full refit, as workmen began ripping out ruined fixtures and fittings.

But yesterday, he said things were currently "all a bit frustrating."

"In fact we are still waiting for a definite start date.

"The building is all stripped out and dry now and hopefully contractors will be on site within the next week or so - fingers crossed!" he said.

However nearby Salts Tennis Club, Crown Green Bowls Club and Sports Association Bar are all now fully restored and even improved.

The bowls club used a Sport England grant of £1,750 to help pay for a new wooden perimeter fence for the green, tennis courts and fences have been repaired and the bar re-opened at Easter.

"The only thing from the Sports Association's perspective that needs to be sorted out is to re-instate the beer garden, unfortunately one of the areas not covered by insurance, so if any companies would like to help with sponsorship or donations of picnic tables it would be gratefully received," said Salts Tennis Club chairman Jim Dyer.

Over the river at Saltaire Cricket club, sterling work by groundsman Billy Ricketts saw the senior 1st XI play their first match of the season on Saturday and beat Keighley by three wickets, said club chairman Simon Hicks.

"There has been lots of hard work and we got off to a very nice start to the season after all the effort."

But Mr Hicks said there was still no start date for re-opening of the Half Moon Cafe, which is part-run by the cricket club.

"We're in limbo over that as it all part of Bradford Council's big overall insurance claim.

"It wouldn't take long once a team of workers got in there, but we don't yet know when refurbishment will take place."

Similarly, Council-owned Baildon Recreation Centre on Green Lane, beside the River Aire is also still firmly shut.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Jas Bhatt, owner of the Boat House, Saltaire, shows off the damage caused by the floods

The owner of the Boat House, Saltaire, Jas Bhatt, is still waiting for refurbishment work to start

Phil Barker, the council's assistant director for sport and culture, said the Half Moon Cafe had now been dried out and a quote for the repair work was awaited from its insurers.

"It is hoped that the cafe will be re-open for business by late summer," he said.

The electrics at Baildon Recreation Centre were badly damaged and building has also now finally dried out.

Mr Barker said: "We have engineers working on repairs to the fire alarms, emergency lighting and heating systems. This will work take around 6-8 weeks and we hope to be opening shortly after this."

Further downstream, Tong Park and Esholt Cricket club's pitch is still unplayable, said Councillor Mike Pollard (Con, Baildon).

"Apparently it has a ripple effect on it which if you were fielding a long cover drive could sent the ball bouncing up into your face," Mr Pollard said.

At the nearby allotments, gardener Sue Hewitson said there was joy that the stone roadside wall was now repaired. "And we've just had 20 tonnes of topsoil delivered by the council, which is currently piled on my plot ready to share out! she said.

Bradford and Bingley Sports Club was flooded three times in two months, but treasurer Nick Patterson said it was now back in business with only minor works left to finish.

"In a lot of ways the floods actually did us some good, really galvanised us and pulled everyone together, however we will be looking a possibly rebuilding the clubhouse completely - eight feet higher and on top of changing rooms to protect it in the future," he said.